UPDATED at 2:20 p.m. Feb. 10 (updates in italics)

Earlier today, Leesburg resident and Accountant James C. Cilenti, 47, was sentenced to 64 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $465,748 in restitution after he and Leesburg attorney Christopher Agresto scammed an insurance company into payout of $507,000 for his deceased wife’s life insurance policy last year.

Last November, Patch reported that USAA Life Insurance Company refused to pay Cilenti the proceeds from his deceased wife’s $500,000 life insurance policy because the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office had identified Cilenti as a person of interest in his wife’s death.

As a result, Cilenti’s adopted daughter was the contingent beneficiary of the policy and as a result Cilenti hired Agresto to create a trust for Cilenti’s adopted daughter so that the proceeds could be paid out.

Cilenti pled guilty on Nov. 3, 2011 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud after obtaining more than $400,000 in life insurance proceeds. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.

In a related matter, Agresto, 37, of Leesburg, pled guilty on Nov. 4, 2011, for his role as Cilenti’s attorney in the conspiracy to commit life insurance fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2012.        

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Uzo Asonye and Michael Rich prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.          

A copy of the official press release may be found on the web site of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.