Brad Russell was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all three counts of the indictment for defrauding developers and their clients of more than $9 million through an advance fee scheme and for defrauding investors through an Alaskan gold mine investment scheme. Kristofor Lange, the vice president of Black Sand Mine Inc. (BSMI), was also convicted on both counts charging him for his role in the gold mine investment scheme. The jury’s verdict followed a six-week trial in United States District Court held before the Honorable Dora L. Irizarry. The trials of co-defendants William Lange and Frank Perkins are scheduled to take place on September 22, 2014.
The guilty verdicts were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge, New York Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Laura M. Laughlin, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Seattle Field Office (FBI).
“Through lies and deceit, the defendants took advantage of a national tragedy and unsuspecting investors and stole millions of dollars so they could line their own pockets. Their representations and assurances were not worth the price of the paper used to print the loan documents and stock certificates. We will vigorously pursue and bring to justice those who would defraud the investing public,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch thanked the USPIS and the FBI for their hard work and dedication through the course of the investigation and prosecution. Ms. Lynch also extended her grateful appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington for their assistance in the case.
The evidence at trial established that Russell, together with others at Harbor Funding Group Inc. (HFGI), executed an advance fee scheme by targeting regions affected by Hurricane Katrina. Russell and his co-conspirators told land developers and their clients that HFGI had lenders and funds available to provide financing for their real estate projects. As a condition for financing, HFGI required its clients to place 10 percent of the loan amount in an attorney escrow account. Contrary to their representations, HFGI did not have lenders or funds available to finance the loans and stole the deposit money placed in escrow. Russell was the loan processor at HFGI and prepared and maintained the loan documents and escrow agreements. Through this fraudulent scheme, Russell and his co-conspirators stole more than $9 million from approximately 300 individuals.
At trial, the government also proved that Russell and Kristofor Lange, together with others, also executed an investment scheme and induced investors to invest in BSMI through lies and deceit. BSMI claimed that it was going to mine gold and other precious metals on Sitkinak Island in Alaska. Through the use of in-person presentations, cold calls and “webinars,” Russell, Lange, and their co-conspirators convinced investors to invest in BSMI by lying to them about the credentials of BSMI’s officers and directors, BSMI’s assets and liabilities, the intended use of investor funds, and by concealing their prior involvement in HFGI.
When sentenced by Judge Irizarry, Russell faces a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for wire fraud conspiracy for the HFGI scheme. Russell and Lange also face a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for securities fraud and a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy for the BSMI scheme.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Winston M. Paes, David C. Woll, Jr. and Alixandra E. Smith.
Today’s announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory, and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions, and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.
Defendants:
Brad A. Russell
Age: 42
Residence: Gig Harbor, Washington
Kristofor J. Lange
Age: 30
Residence: Gig Harbor, Washington
Note: Kristofor Lange was not charged in the advance fee scheme.
The charges against the co-defendants William Lange and Frank Perkins are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Showing posts with label investment scheme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label investment scheme. Show all posts
Friday, March 7, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
California Man Guilty in $7 Million Fraud Scheme Concerning Purported Alternative Energy Technology
LOS ANGELES—A Northern California man has been convicted of federal fraud charges for his involvement in a $7 million investment scheme that lured investors with false promises relating to the development of an alternative energy technology, Richard S. Hartunian, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced today.
Richard M. Rossignol, 63, who now resides in Shingle Springs, California, was convicted on February 28 of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The jury took less than six hours to render its verdict on the sole count.
United States District Judge Audrey B. Collins presided over the seven-week trial in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Following the verdict on Friday, Judge Collins scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 16. At sentencing, Rossignol faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
Rossignol and a co-defendant—William A. Stehl, 69, of Ventura—were arrested in Oxnard, California, four years ago in connection with an indictment filed in the Northern District of New York. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Additionally, Stehl was charged with several tax charges and lying to federal agents.
The conspiracy count alleged that from 2001 up to the time of the indictment in March 2010, Stehl, Rossignol, and others induced victims to invest money in companies that were purportedly developing or utilizing an alternative energy source Stehl claimed he had developed. Investors were told that one of Stehl’s applications related to the processing of precious metals allegedly contained in a slag pile in Silver City, New Mexico.
Stehl and Rossignol were charged with fraudulently obtaining money from investors by making false representations about the status of the process, claiming that contracts and licensing agreements had either been signed, or were about to be signed, and would result in significant financial returns for the investors. Stehl and Rossignol obtained more than $7 million from more than 300 victims. None of the investors received the returns promised by Stehl and Rossignol, and most of the money obtained was used for personal expenditures by Stehl and Rossignol.
Stehl was living near Saranac Lake in New York when the scheme started. Stehl moved to Southern California in late 2005, and Rossignol was convicted of conspiring with Stehl and others up to the time of the indictment. Fraud victims lived across the nation, including in Sacramento, California; Los Angeles; Charleston, West Virginia; and New York.
The indictment was originally filed in the Northern District of New York, but in October 2012, the case was transferred to the Central District of California to accommodate Stehl, who received injuries in an explosion occurring in a building in Sylmar, California, on August 9, 2011.
In November 2013, Judge Collins granted a request by Stehl’s attorneys to have a separate trial. Stehl is now scheduled to go to trial on July 22. Rossignol is free on bond.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany, New York Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin P. Dooley of the Binghamton branch office in the Northern District of New York. Additional inquiries can be directed to AUSA Dooley at (607) 773-2887.
Richard M. Rossignol, 63, who now resides in Shingle Springs, California, was convicted on February 28 of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The jury took less than six hours to render its verdict on the sole count.
United States District Judge Audrey B. Collins presided over the seven-week trial in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Following the verdict on Friday, Judge Collins scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 16. At sentencing, Rossignol faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
Rossignol and a co-defendant—William A. Stehl, 69, of Ventura—were arrested in Oxnard, California, four years ago in connection with an indictment filed in the Northern District of New York. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Additionally, Stehl was charged with several tax charges and lying to federal agents.
The conspiracy count alleged that from 2001 up to the time of the indictment in March 2010, Stehl, Rossignol, and others induced victims to invest money in companies that were purportedly developing or utilizing an alternative energy source Stehl claimed he had developed. Investors were told that one of Stehl’s applications related to the processing of precious metals allegedly contained in a slag pile in Silver City, New Mexico.
Stehl and Rossignol were charged with fraudulently obtaining money from investors by making false representations about the status of the process, claiming that contracts and licensing agreements had either been signed, or were about to be signed, and would result in significant financial returns for the investors. Stehl and Rossignol obtained more than $7 million from more than 300 victims. None of the investors received the returns promised by Stehl and Rossignol, and most of the money obtained was used for personal expenditures by Stehl and Rossignol.
Stehl was living near Saranac Lake in New York when the scheme started. Stehl moved to Southern California in late 2005, and Rossignol was convicted of conspiring with Stehl and others up to the time of the indictment. Fraud victims lived across the nation, including in Sacramento, California; Los Angeles; Charleston, West Virginia; and New York.
The indictment was originally filed in the Northern District of New York, but in October 2012, the case was transferred to the Central District of California to accommodate Stehl, who received injuries in an explosion occurring in a building in Sylmar, California, on August 9, 2011.
In November 2013, Judge Collins granted a request by Stehl’s attorneys to have a separate trial. Stehl is now scheduled to go to trial on July 22. Rossignol is free on bond.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany, New York Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin P. Dooley of the Binghamton branch office in the Northern District of New York. Additional inquiries can be directed to AUSA Dooley at (607) 773-2887.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Former Miami Securities Professional Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud in Connection with Multi-State Investment Scheme
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Drew J. Breakspear, Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, Bureau of Financial Investigations, announce that Daniel Paez, 27, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty today to one count of securities fraud before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in Florida and several states. Paez faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been set for February 4, 2014 before Judge Dimitrouleas in Ft. Lauderdale.
According to court documents, Paez was the president of Fly High Investments, Inc., a Miami-Dade investment fund. From in or around September 2010 through in or around April 2012, Paez obtained more than $500,000 in funds from investors via telephone solicitations and through the Internet. Paez told investors that Fly High Investments was a hedge fund that managed more than $50 million, and he promised investors that their money would be invested in safe and secure investments. Paez also promised a fixed rate of return and that investors could withdraw their money whenever they wished. Instead, according to the information, Paez spent the bulk of the money raised from investors at casinos and also withdrew large amounts of cash for his personal benefit. Paez did invest certain investor monies in stocks and other securities, but often in high-risk investments or penny stocks that were materially different than the specific investments promised to investors during their sales pitch.
When investors contacted Fly High Investments and Paez to inquire about the status of their funds, Paez misled investors into believing their money was safe and had been invested profitably. Paez ultimately stopped returning calls and ignored requests for the return of investor funds. According to the Information, there were approximately 17 victim investors who were located in Florida and other states, including California, South Dakota, New Jersey, and Minnesota. None of these investors received any return on their investment and they lost all of the money they invested with Fly High Investments and Paez.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, Bureau of Financial Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerrob Duffy.
According to court documents, Paez was the president of Fly High Investments, Inc., a Miami-Dade investment fund. From in or around September 2010 through in or around April 2012, Paez obtained more than $500,000 in funds from investors via telephone solicitations and through the Internet. Paez told investors that Fly High Investments was a hedge fund that managed more than $50 million, and he promised investors that their money would be invested in safe and secure investments. Paez also promised a fixed rate of return and that investors could withdraw their money whenever they wished. Instead, according to the information, Paez spent the bulk of the money raised from investors at casinos and also withdrew large amounts of cash for his personal benefit. Paez did invest certain investor monies in stocks and other securities, but often in high-risk investments or penny stocks that were materially different than the specific investments promised to investors during their sales pitch.
When investors contacted Fly High Investments and Paez to inquire about the status of their funds, Paez misled investors into believing their money was safe and had been invested profitably. Paez ultimately stopped returning calls and ignored requests for the return of investor funds. According to the Information, there were approximately 17 victim investors who were located in Florida and other states, including California, South Dakota, New Jersey, and Minnesota. None of these investors received any return on their investment and they lost all of the money they invested with Fly High Investments and Paez.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, Bureau of Financial Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerrob Duffy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)