Alan Fabian stood before the judge and quoted from the Bible. He cited Aristotle. He talked of his numerous charitable actions. He broke down into tears.
“I am broken, humbled and crushed,” he told the judge.
Despite Fabian’s speech, U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Blake had little leniency for the businessman prosecutors say perpetrated a $40 million fraud scheme — one of the largest in Maryland history.
Blake sentenced Fabian, 44, of Cockeysville to 9 years in prison. Blake also ordered Fabian to forfeit his interest in several beachfront properties in North Carolina, three cars and a limited liability company.
The judge conceded that Fabian, who held Bible studies at his lavish Baltimore County home, is “a person who likes to do good deeds” and that he funneled some of his fraudulently obtained funds to charities.
“He could have been a complete con man,” she said.
“There is a large difference for some people between their true character and the face they show in public,” said Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein. “Mr. Fabian presented to the world an image of success that was untethered to reality. This is a man who has a lot of supporters, but fooled a lot of people. He deceived a lot of people and caused a lot of pain. … Mr. Fabian was a very effective con artist.”
Rosenstein said even after Fabian was informed of his pending indictment he continued to “lie, cheat and steal” from other victims.
“Nine years is a pretty substantial sentence in a case of this kind,” the prosecutor said.
Fabian, a certified public accountant and major Republican Party player, had already pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing a false tax return in a scheme to defraud businesses, banks and financial institutions.
Fabian, who served as former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s finance director during his 2006 bid for the Senate, was indicted in August after he allegedly created two companies to purchase $32 million in computer hardware and software for other businesses. But Fabian’s companies never purchased the equipment, or bought much less expensive equipment, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors spent much of the two-day sentencing hearing discussing the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by Fabian. They mentioned all-inclusive trips taken to New York, Egypt and Israel. Security teams hired to accompany the family. Private sails on a yacht.
“He lived in a spectacular house,” testified former church friend James Little, whom Fabian allegedly bilked out of $500,000. “He drove nice cars. He had a vacation home.”
Fabian, who grew tearful as he spoke of his family, told the judge he was “stripped and bare.”
“My pride and arrogance led me down this path,” he said. “We have lost everything. My wife and children will suffer from these actions forever.”
Fabian’s supporters point to his philanthropic efforts, including his creation of the Baltimore-based Centre for Technology and Management, a company Fabian founded with allegedly fraudulent funds. Through that company, Fabian recently opened a free computer center for residents in Baltimore’s Druid Hill neighborhood.
“I love every one of you,” Fabian said to the CMAT employees seated in the packed courtroom. “I believed in what we tried to do.”
Then he turned to his family.
“I’m not the husband or father you deserve,” he said, between tears. “A good husband would not have put you through this.”
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