El Dorado, Arkansas – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Robert Craig “Bob” Smith, age 55, of El Dorado, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $850,399.79 in restitution on two counts of Bank Fraud. The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in El Dorado.

According to court records, with respect to the first count, Smith was the owner and operator of Working Chemical Solutions, Inc. (WCS), a Delaware corporation located in El Dorado, Arkansas. Working Chemical Solutions, Inc. manufactured chemical products used in three areas of market concentration Consumer Packaged Specialty Products, Industrial Specialty Products and Scientific Specialty Products. One of its products was known as "C'mere Deer" also known as "Wild Game Attractant." Smith obtained two loans and extensions to those loans for his company, WCS, through Timberland Bank in El Dorado, Arkansas. Timberland Bank secured these loans with a security interest in all stock and other instruments, general intangibles and contract rights, including, “C’mere Deer. Smith subsequently sold the “C’mere Deer” formula, confidential information and trademarks to Environmental Science Technologies, LLC for $500,000 in December 2006. Smith paid Timberland Bank $149,035.21 out of the $500,000.00 and kept $350,964.79 for the use of WCS or his personal use.

With respect to the second count, Smith opened business checking accounts in the names of ATS Scientific Group of Louisiana, LLC and Wells Safety and Technical Products of Louisiana, LLC at First Guaranty Bank in Dubach, Louisiana. He also opened business checking accounts in the names of Gilbo, LLC and RCS Investment Trust at First Financial Bank in El Dorado, Arkansas. In March of 2016, during an audit by First Financial Bank’s Internal Audit Department, it appeared that Smith was kiting checks between his Gilbo, LLC and RCS Investment Trust accounts at First Financial Bank and checks drawn on the ATS Scientific Group of Louisiana, LLC and Wells Safety and Technical Products of Louisiana, LLC accounts at First Guaranty Bank. On March 7, 2016, First Financial Bank placed holds on all unverified deposits. As a result of the holds, the checks presented for payment from First Guaranty Bank to First Financial Bank were returned and the checks deposited to First Financial Bank were returned from First Guaranty Bank. Between March 9, 2016 and March 10 2016, checks totaling $499,435 were charged back to ATS Scientific Group of Louisiana, LLC and Wells Safety and Technical Products of Louisiana, LLC accounts at First Guaranty Bank.

Smith was named in a six count indictment and plead guilty to counts three and six in September 2018.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Webb prosecuted the case for the United States.