William J. Edwards, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that an information has been filed against David C. Perorazio charging him with mail fraud. Perorazio, age 51, resides in Powell, Ohio.

The information alleges that Perorazio was employed by Parker Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, as the General Manager of its Tube Fittings Division in Columbus, Ohio. The information further alleges that, from March 2003 through June 2008, Perorazio caused Parker Hannifin to issue 23 unauthorized checks totaling $434,153.10. The information charges that 17 of these checks, totaling $348,400, were paid to Advacorp Associates, a business name established by Perorazio, and checks were mailed to a Post Office Box he opened in Dayton, Ohio. The information alleges that the other six unauthorized checks totaling $85,753.10 were also paid for the defendant’s personal benefit. The information states that Parker Hannifin discovered Perorazio’s scheme in June 2008 and was able to stop payment on three of these checks totaling $70,153.10. As a result, the information alleges that Parker Hannifin Corporation sustained an actual loss of $364,000.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John D. Sammon, following an investigation by the Cleveland Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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