Tag: IRS Criminal Investigations Unit
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‘In God We Trust’ Securities Huckster Found Guilty In $17 Million Swindle; Byron Keith Brown Had ‘Fleet’ Of Luxury Cars; Feds Call Business ‘Tangled Financial Web Of Lies’
A Virginia man who traded on religious sentiments and the motto printed on U.S. currency to fleece investors in a $17 million Ponzi and securities swindle potentially faces decades in prison after being found guilty in Maryland of wire-fraud and money-laundering charges. Byron Keith Brown bought at least 16 luxury or high-performance cars with investors’…
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PONZI NEWS/NOTES: Judge Says Matthew Pizzolato ‘Swindled The Salt Of The Earth’; Feds Allege New Scheme In New York; Henri Zogaib Arrested Again In Florida
EDITOR’S NOTE: The briefs below summarize recent developments in Ponzi cases or actions in new Ponzi cases. Sentenced: Matthew B. Pizzolato, 26, Tickfaw, La. Ripped off senior citizens in Ponzi scheme. In sentencing Pizzolato to 30 years in federal prison, U. S. District Judge Lance M. Africk said Pizzolato “stole from hard working Americans†and…
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WANTED: Feds Ask For Assist In Locating Accused Pyramid Schemer Jason P. Unangst; Missing Indictee Listed As ‘Fugitive’ After Hatching Plot To Sell Mobile Homes To Hurricane Victims
A Pittsburgh-area man indicted in June 2009 is now listed as a fugitive in a pyramid-scheme and money-laundering case, federal prosecutors said. Jason P. Unangst, 34, formerly lived in the Pittsburgh suburbs of McCandless Township and Wexford. His last verifiable address was listed as Virginia Beach, Va., prosecutors said. He was indicted on charges of…
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DEVELOPING STORY: Douglas Ballard, Banker Accused Of Lending Money For Guy Mitchell’s Alleged ‘Private Island In The Bahamas,’ Pleads Guilty; Case Part Of $1 Billion Failure Of Integrity Bank
A Georgia banker accused of lending a now-accused Florida real-estate fraudster money to buy a “private island” in the Caribbean has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and to receive bribes, and to a single count of tax evasion, federal prosecutors said. Douglas Ballard, 40, of Atlanta, formerly was the executive vice president…
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Postal Inspectors, IRS Say Canadian Promoted ‘Series’ Of HYIP Frauds; Randi A. Bochinski Arrested In British Columbia, Faces U.S. Indictment
Still promoting HYIP frauds on the Ponzi boards and elsewhere? A Canadian citizen was arrested in British Columbia June 3 and now has been indicted in the United States on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and money-laundering, authorities said. Randi A. Bochinski, 46, of Kelowna, B.C., potentially faces decades in prison and huge fines…
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APOLOGISTS INTERRUPTED: Two Court Rulings Show That HYIP Operators, Players Setting Stage For Painful Downfalls, Foreclosures; Woman Loses Home While New Mom Loses Everything
EDITOR’S NOTE: UPDATED 9:22 P.M. EDT (June 7, 2010, U.S.A.) This post is presented in seven parts. With the exception of the lengthier introduction, each part includes six to eight paragraphs. You’ll see a “GO TO PAGE” prompt at the bottom of each section. Simply click on the next page number to continue reading. The…