Grove City man guilty of fraud — again

A Grove City man admitted in federal court in Columbus on Wednesday that he defrauded several individuals, promising to help with legal entanglements and immigration issues but taking their money instead.

Christopher E. Keifer, 49, was on probation after serving time for an earlier financial scam when the new charges came to light.

Appearing before Magistrate Judge Norah Mccann King, Keifer offered “I”m guilty” to wire fraud, bank fraud and aiding and abetting fraud in relation to identification documents. The three felony counts carry potential prison sentences ranging from 15-30 years, though a plea agreement calls for 45 months behind bars, plus restitution of more than $80,000.

The ultimate sanction will be decided by District Judge Algenon L. Marbley, who can accept or reject the plea agreement.

According to court documents, Keifer convinced several federal prisoners and their families that he could help them with their legal or immigration issues, though he was “not an attorney, never completed any legal work and was never responsible for the release of any individual.”

The scheme included a fake nonprofit group purported to have law offices in several states, bank accounts opened using five different driver’s licenses and counterfeit business papers, according to documents.

Keifer was initially charged in September with 15 counts of wire fraud in the case but pleaded guilty Wednesday to a superseding bill of information with three counts.

It’s not the first time Keifer has awaited a decision from Marbley.

Nearly a decade ago, Keifer was sentenced to 87 months in prison in a fraud case involving a proposed Easton-style development in Urbancrest southwest of Columbus that was to be called Metrovia. Those plans never came to fruition, and Keifer was arrested for check forgery and other counts.