[kvisser]

At the risk of redundacy, has anyone here heard of this ponzi schemer, Byron Keith Brown. A friend of mine was an alternate at his trial in which his multiple exotic cars were seized. He was convicted on all counts.

FORMER ELLICOTT CITY MAN CONVICTED IN $17 MILLION
ONLINE PONZI SCHEME

Used Fraud Proceeds to Purchase Numerous Luxury Vehicles

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal jury convicted Byron Keith Brown, age 32, of Vienna, Virginia, formerly of Ellicott City, Maryland, today on wire fraud and money laundering charges related to a five year scheme to fraudulently obtain over $17 million from online investors.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office

“Byron Brown used the internet to make it appear as if he were running an investment management business for wealthy investors, when in fact he was stealing millions of dollars from investors and using it to buy a fleet of luxury cars,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “In addition to sentencing criminals to prison, our goal is to seize any assets purchased with criminal proceeds.”

“This case shows that the appearance of success can be a mask for a tangled financial web of lies,” stated Rebecca Sparkman, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Washington DC Field Office. “Ponzi schemes can thrive for a time on false claims about how the money is being invested and where the returns are coming from; but that time is gone and as this verdict shows it is time for those responsible to face judgment.”

According to testimony at his three week trial, Brown was the chief executive officer for companies called In God We Trust (IGT) Financial Services, IGT Investment Company, IGT Wealth Management Group, and WM Private Equity Fund, Inc. Brown was not licensed as a broker, dealer or investment advisor in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia.

The evidence presented at trial showed that from 2003 to 2009, Brown operated websites in which he falsely: held himself out as having 10 years experience in financial services and securities industries when in fact he had filed personal bankruptcy in 1999; and claimed to have offices in Washington, D.C., Wilmington, Delaware, New York, NY, and London, England, when in fact he had rented a mailbox or services at a virtual office that provided telephone answering services and mail forwarding services to clients. Brown advertised on his websites that the basic investment required was a minimum of $1 million. He used computer software to create an illusion that the investor was logging into a banking website and viewing account information when in fact, the account numbers were made up. Brown found investors through his websites and referrals.

Witnesses testified that Brown opened some bank accounts in the names of investors, but Brown retained a power of attorney over the accounts, managed all the money that was invested, controlled investment decisions and deprived investors of information about their accounts. According to the trial evidence, Brown sometimes used funds from new investors to make payments to old investors and to conceal his diversion of investors’ monies.

Brown used the investors’ money to purchase a 2004 Bentley, a 2005 Rolls Royce Phantom, a 1936 Auburn Speedster, a 2007 BMW, a 1997 Jaguar and a 2006 Aston Martin. To date, the government has seized 16 vehicles, including some of the vehicles described above, as well as a 2007 Lamborghini, a 2008 Maserati, two Mercedes and a 2002 Ferrari.

Brown faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the five counts of wire fraud; and 10 years in prison and a fine of twice the amount laundered for each of the five counts of money laundering. U.S. District Judge William M. Nickerson has scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Joyce K. McDonald and Martin J. Clarke, who are prosecuting the case.

[Granucci]

Byron Keith Brown was sentenced to a 15-year prison term last December for stealing $17 million from investors through an internet Ponzi scheme. Now, the federal government is selling off his extensive car collection on Tuesday in an Ellicott City, Maryland auction. SOURCE: Baltimore Sun


Ponzi schemer's exotic car collection being auctioned by feds on Tuesday — Autoblog

Seems his cars [17] will help with a lot except his jail time.

http://www.manheimgovservices.com/ma...tDirection=asc

Site will post inventory later I guess. Would like to know the SN of the 360 to stay away from it.

[Boxer]

Can't fix stupid.

[TitanioGrigio]

Anyone know where the sale results are posted? It would be interesting to see what the cars went for.

[360 Modena]

Originally Posted by TitanioGrigio

Anyone know where the sale results are posted? It would be interesting to see what the cars went for.

I read the Ferrari sold for $100,000 and the Lambo ~$230,000 (don't quote me on the Lambo, I left the paper on a train)

Here's link to a story from the Baltimore Sun

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201...vestment-fraud