HARRISBURG - Agents from the Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section have filed criminal charges against four Scranton area residents and three businesses linked to a multi-million dollar fraud and theft scheme in Lackawanna County.

According to the grand jury, the clients victimized by this wide-ranging scheme included the Mount Airy Casino Resort, along with the University of Scranton, Marywood University, Loyola College of Maryland, St. Joseph's University and other educational institutions; local government agencies like Phoenixville Borough; Moses-Taylor Hospital; the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium; and other unsuspecting businesses and non-profit groups.

Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the central figures in the alleged financial "pyramid scheme" as Brian James Murray, age 67, of 811Clay Ave., Scranton and 343 Treetop Trail, Buck Hill Falls, along with Christine M. Oliver-Shean, 51, 704 North Irving Road, Scranton.

Corbett said that Murray served as CEO, Chairman and Principle of the bankrupt Murray Insurance Agency, located at 415 Spruce St., Scranton, while Oliver-Shean is the former company President.  Both are charged with a series of crimes, including criminal conspiracy, money laundering, theft, insurance fraud, forgery, participating in a corrupt organization, tampering with evidence, obstructing law enforcement and various tax crimes.

Additionally, Corbett said that criminal charges have been filed against Brian Murray's wife, Diane D. Murray, age 66, of Scranton, who is accused of theft and conspiracy involving money allegedly diverted from another business to the Murray Insurance Agency, along with filing false corporate tax returns and filing false personal income tax returns.

Also charged is Christine Oliver-Shean's husband, Timothy G. Shean, age 53, of Scranton, who is accused of conspiracy, tampering with physical evidence and obstructing law enforcement regarding efforts to allegedly hide company records from investigators.

Corbett said that according to an extensive grand jury investigation, the fraud and theft involving Brian Murray and Christine Oliver-Shean totaled more than $7.5 million dollars over the past ten years.  Additionally, Murray and Oliver-Shean allegedly used an offshore business, registered in the British Virgin Islands, to conceal more than $10 million in income and avoid paying Pennsylvania taxes.