Florida businessman facing investment fraud charges

On Behalf of | Oct 3, 2017 | White Collar Crimes

A Florida based businessman, the founder of a private-equity firm, was recently arrested following allegations of investors being swindled out of $19 million over a 12-year period. Federal prosecutors say he faces investment fraud charges for allegedly conning investors into buying stock shares in companies that deal in insurance, gems and self-storage projects from Jan. 2005 through Sept. 2017. According to a federal affidavit, the defendant claimed he took no salary and guaranteed returns on investments.

The document further indicates that the investors were under the impression that their funds would go toward marketing and sales. However, it is alleged that a significant portion of the investor funds that the defendant raised was illegally appropriated for personal use by him and his co-conspirators. A portion of these funds was allegedly also used to further the fraud scheme.

Federal prosecutors are further questioning an amount of $660,000 that was reportedly withdrawn in cash following the seizure of the defendant’s records by the FBI from his office in August. At his appearance in federal court, the judge determined that the defendant was a flight risk, and he ordered detainment without bail. If convicted, the businessman could face over 17 years in federal incarceration.

Any person who faces federal fraud charges in Florida may benefit from having an experienced criminal defense attorney in his or her corner. Investment fraud cases typically have mounds of evidence through which a lawyer can sift to get answers to use when building a defense strategy. The knowledge and skills of an experienced attorney can be put to good use while he or she defends a client with the aim of achieving the best possible outcome.

Source: insideselfstorage.com, “Florida-Based Self-Storage Developer Arrested for Investment Fraud“, Sept. 27, 2017

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