CRANBERRY TWP — A man who pleaded guilty in 2018 to defrauding a Cranberry Township restaurateur now faces federal charges in a $6.5 million wire fraud case in Virginia.

Carl Anthony McNeill, 57, of Pennsylvania, was indicted in November on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in what prosecutors called a more than two-year-long scheme to defraud clients.

McNeill pleaded guilty in October 2018 to a misdemeanor charge of theft by deception for taking $90,000 from a Cranberry restaurateur who sought a loan to open a third location and to buy out a partner from another business agreement by falsely telling the restaurateur he could procure a $900,000 loan if the restaurateur fronted 10% of the cost.

He informed the restaurateur he obtained funding from C&D Financial Group LLC, Creative Capital Partners and C&D Corp. Services, but never provided the funds.

As part of his guilty plea, McNeill paid $90,000 in restitution, along with a $500 fine and court costs.

In Virginia, the federal indictment alleges, McNeill pilfered money from at least two business entities with the same strategy as he did in Cranberry.

He, Ksyntoilious Miller of Virginia and two unnamed co-conspirators obtained nearly $6.5 million from a church and the owner of a construction company, the federal government alleges.

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.