Marana man defrauds firms of $573,000
Phillip E. Narum, 47, formerly of Marana, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Bury to 48 months in federal prison for wire fraud and filing false tax returns. Narum was found guilty at trial on the wire fraud charges. He previously pleaded guilty to the tax charges.
According to evidence presented at trial, Narum was hired in 2004 as an independent contractor at Young and Sons Contracting, Inc., a family owned and operated construction firm in Tucson. Between 2005 and 2008, Narum defrauded Young and Sons of approximately $573,000, which he used to make credit card and mortgage payments and to purchase personal items such as a motor home, multiple dragsters, and dragster parts.
The victim in the case, Mr. Young, addressed the court. Bryant Young said Mr. Narum ruined his life and his family’s lives. He called Mr. Narum a criminal. Mr. Young said he lost his home, his savings, and his business. Bryant told Narum showed no remorse.
At the end of the hearing, Narum was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals. They placed him in handcuffs and took him out through a side door in the courtroom.
A restitution hearing is set for November 5, 2012.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the FBI.