Two Sentenced in $821K Fraud Scheme Tied to Port of Savannah Logistics

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Two men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to a multi-year fraud scheme involving fake transportation invoices tied to port logistics operations.

Philip Charles Smith, 41, of Richmond Hill, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Antonio J. Evans Sr., 41, of Sylvania, received a 13-month prison sentence and will also serve three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

Both men pleaded guilty to wire fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Smith and Evans to jointly pay $821,899 in restitution, representing the total loss to the company involved.

According to court documents, Smith worked for a national logistics and transportation company that serviced the Port of Savannah. In his role, he was responsible for assigning freight-hauling contracts to third-party carriers.

Prosecutors said that from July 2021 through August 2024, Smith used his position to create fraudulent freight jobs and assigned them to Evans, who owned a local trucking company. The company paid Evans for work that was never performed, and Evans then kicked back a portion of the money to Smith.

Federal officials said the scheme exploited a position of trust and impacted supply chain operations connected to the Port of Savannah.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.