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Tag: Jeff Atwater

  • FLORIDA — AGAIN: State, Local Authorities Say Marguerite Martial Jean Ripped Off Hundreds Of Haitian-Americans In Affinity-Fraud And Ponzi Caper That Targeted Churchgoers

    Marguerite Martial Jean. Source: Broward County Sheriff's Office

    Marguerite Martial Jean has been arrested in Florida on felony charges of operating a $3.4 million Ponzi scheme that targeted Haitian-Americans and churchgoers in the Sunshine State.

    Florida has been plagued by Ponzi schemes and other forms of financial fraud. The announcement of Jean’s arrest was made by Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. Joining Rundle in the announcement were Tom Cardwell of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and Jeff Atwater, the state’s chief financial officer.

    Jean, 38, was charged securities fraud, grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. She is being held at the Paul Rein Detention Facility. Bail was set at $300,000.

    Authorties said Jean fleeced at least 293 victims through her companies, which were known as MMJ’s Warehouse and VLM Enterprise. Among other things, Jean posed as a buyer and seller of rice from India who shared money she made on the spread with investors, authorities said.

    “Jean promoted the investment offering to members of her church congregation guaranteeing her promissory notes and made promises to pay investors as much as 22% interest,” authorities said.

    When investigators reverse-engineered the scheme, a “bank analysis revealed that investor funds went to Jean’s personal account, which she subsequently used to pay older investors and finance her lifestyle,” authorities said.

  • Florida Captures ‘Most Wanted’ Insurance Fraudster; Erline Telfort Accused Of Operating Ponizi Scheme To Steal From Finance Company

    Florida officials have announced the capture of Erline Telfort, one of the states “Most Wanted” insurance criminals.

    Telfort, of Broward County, was accused of operating a $500,000 Ponzi scheme and defrauding a finance company. Her arrest was announced by Jeff Atwater, the chief financial officer of Florida.

    “This arrest is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our fraud investigators,” said Atwater.  “For too long scam artists like these have been allowed to steal hard earned money from honest Floridians.”

    Florida has been plagued by Ponzi schemes and other forms of financial fraud. Atwater implemented a website that flashes pictures of wanted hucksters. The idea behind the site, according to Atwater, is to engage “Floridians in the search for scammers who have eluded law enforcement.”

    Telfort, 29, was charged with organized fraud and criminal conspiracy. After her capture, the state published her photo, superimposing the word “CAPTURED” in red type to drive home the point that investigators and members of the public have a new tool to keep information on alleged criminals flowing.

    The names and photos of “Most Wanted” subjects who remain at large repeatedly load on the site. The state is offering tipsters rewards of up to $25,000 “for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.”

    “I can assure you my office is up to the challenge of uncovering these schemes and continuing to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Atwater said.

    In his role as Florida’s CFO, Atwater oversees the state’s Department of Financial Services, including the Division of Insurance Fraud.

    Visit the “Most Wanted” site.