Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Senior Public Relations Firm Executive For Defraud

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Senior Public Relations Firm Executive For Defrauding His Employers Of Millions Of Dollars


Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced that ANDREW GARSON was arrested today on wire fraud charges in connection with a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud two public relations firms where GARSON worked, and a subsequent scheme to obtain New York State unemployment insurance benefits to which GARSON was not entitled.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As a public relations executive, Andrew Garson’s expertise in garnering positive attention for his clients is well known, even earning him a spot on the ‘40 Under 40’ in a popular industry magazine. But behind the scenes, Garson allegedly schemed to steal from his employers, eventually costing them over $2 million in losses. Andrew Garson has likely generated his own (negative) publicity, and now faces the possibility of serious time in federal prison.”

USPIS Inspector in Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: “As alleged, Mr. Garson’s arrogance and disrespect for his employers and the rule of law was on full display in this case. He allegedly lied and stole from his employers to feed his greed and fund his personal endeavors. Mr. Garson may have plenty of time to utilize his keen public relations skills if convicted of the charges.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

Between approximately 2013 and 2018, GARSON was employed as an executive at two different marketing/public relations agencies located in New York, New York, the first between approximately 2013 and January 2018 (“PR Firm-1”), and the second between approximately January 2018 and November 2018 (“PR Firm-2”). In his respective roles at those two firms, GARSON was responsible for working directly with clients, coordinating various marketing and public relations campaigns, and managing vendor relationships in connection with such campaigns. In or about July 2018, GARSON was named a “40 Under 40” public relations executive by PR Week Magazine. For years, however, GARSON engaged in a scheme to lie to his two employers, which fraudulently induced interstate wire transfers of funds and caused his employers millions of dollars in losses.

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-charges-against-senior-public-relations-firm-executive