Pair used fake hauls to steal $800K+ from logistics company

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A logistics company employee and a trucking company owner were sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a scheme involving fake transportation invoices tied to work at the Port of Savannah, federal prosecutors said.

Philip Charles Smith, 41, of Richmond Hill, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, and Antonio J. Evans Sr., 41, of Sylvania, was sentenced to 13 months. Both will serve three years of supervised release and were ordered to pay $821,899 in restitution, jointly.

Prosecutors said the scheme ran from July 2021 to August 2024, with Smith allegedly creating fake freight-hauling jobs that were assigned to Evans, whose company was paid for work that did not occur. Evans then kicked back part of the money to Smith.

The FBI investigated the case.