He has served approximately 76 months of his 240-month sentence of imprisonment and his projected release date is March 7, 2031. However, Persauds trading strategy of relying on lunar cycles to make trades was not only undisclosed to investors, but also generated more than $400,000 in losses. There are 20 individuals that go by the name of Deepal Wannakuwatte. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 21, 2014. In fact, there were no such invoices, and no such debt was owed by the VA to IMG. The Government also submits Defendant's BOP medical records filed under seal which do not include any information about Defendant's claimed serious lung disorders, severely compromised immune system, or gastrointestinal bleeding. Call The Bees Dale Kasler, (916) 321-1066. From 2005 to 2010, the Hibberts oversaw a congregation at the Masonic Church of God in Torontos east end. His partner in the Capitals, a Fair Oaks man named Ramey Osborne, wound up loaning Wannakuwatte about $456,000, according to bankruptcy court records. As to his conditions of confinement, Defendant has not shown he is unable to manage his health conditions and minimize his risks through self-care. In 2013, Wannakuwatte claimed to have more than $125 million in VA contracts alone. The exposure was gigantic, Heller said. All rights reserved. 1B1.13, cmt. Deepal Wannakuwatte, 63, was arrested in February 2014 and indicted on federal fraud charges, including mail fraud and wire fraud, which each carry maximum 20-year prison terms. Then last week he turned the. U.S. v. WANNAKUWATTE | No. 2:14-CR-00067 TLN. | 20150330854| Leagle.com In the early 20th century, a little-known Italian immigrant gained international notoriety after his investment venture promising astronomical returns through the resale of postal reply coupons was proved to be mathematically impossible. Sacramento, CA. 2:14-cr-00067-TLN (E.D. He used investors money to pay the overstated tax returns. Wannakuwatte developed false documents and relationships to prove his bona fides to investors, including false tax returns overstating income, false corporate documents, and a fake VA representative. 3582(c)(1)(A) (requiring a consideration of the 3553(a) factors before granting compassionate release). While Sundown did actually engage in comic book production, the resulting revenues were not nearly enough to make the promised returns to investors. The case against Deepal Wannakuwatte was already one for the books: a successful immigrant businessman, owner of a professional tennis team, admitting he had perpetrated one of the largest Ponzi. Prosecutors have said the net loss to investors came to $109 million. A New York man was accused of using his position as head of a soccer club to dupe investors out of more than $5 million in a Ponzi scheme that purportedly financed the sale of cigarettes to a Native American Indian reservation. Lock The sentence imposed today is tantamount to a life sentence, although no amount of prison time will undo the harm he caused to so many victims. 20. We found 1 criminal records from the federal database for Deepal Wannakuwatte. Another submitted a poem that called Wannakuwatte a miserable soul.. Victims are expected to recover at least 50% of their losses. I want to commend the FBI and IRS-CI for detecting and swiftly stopping this scheme before it caused even greater losses., Wanakuwattes victimsindividuals, businesses, government agencies, venture funds, and financial institutionssuffered as his elaborate scheme collapsed. The three later entered into plea agreements with prosecutors, resulting for prison terms for the husband and son and a suspended sentence for the wife. Share on Twitter Twitter Wannakuwatte used the money from investors to cover these losses and pad his own pockets. Former Sacramento tennis team owner gets 20 years in Ponzi scheme A thief, a serial thief. In February 2015, he was ordered to forfeit more than $3 million worth of real estate, vehicles, interests in financial accounts, cash, and business interests. Next: A Virtual Concierge Ponzi Scheme With A Shark Tank Link. Deepal took full advantage of him in any way he could, she wrote. No Thanks According to the Bee, Wannakuwatte, 63, had been under investigation by several federal agencies, including Veterans Affairs, the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Deposit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Beckwith and Kevin Khasigian are prosecuting the case. He is a shadow of the man. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. In his highprofile pursuit for prestige and financial gain, Wannakuwatte had no regard for public trust and the financial stability of his victims, said Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the Sacramento Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, relief under 18 U.S.C. Guru operated Susi Emu Farms (Susi Farms), which promised potential investors a weekly return of $120 in exchange for a $3,000 investment that supposedly purchased a baby emu. As the Government points out, the CDC has not listed essential (primary) hypertension as a condition that puts individuals at a higher risk of severe illness. Wannakuwatte has been indicted on three charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, which could land him 30 years in prison and $3 million worth of fines $1. This case should serve as a warning to those thinking of committing fraud., FDIC OIG Special Agent in Charge Wade V. Walters stated, The sentencing of Mr. Wannakuwatte today reflects fitting punishment for a fraud scheme that victimized so many trusting individuals, businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, and others. Defendant cites the conditions of his confinement at USP Lompoc as an additional factor in his vulnerability. For instance: Also interesting: The correlation of Ponzi schemes uncovered to the financial crisis is arguably strong. Wannakuwattes decadelong crime constitutes very possibly the largest Ponzi scheme in the regions history, Wagner said. See 18 U.S.C. The functioning of a Ponzi scheme is inherently simple. An official website of the United States government. BOP records do, however, confirm Defendant has been diagnosed with essential (primary) hypertension. Next: Online Auction Revealed to Be $500 Million Ponzi Scheme. Many of these so-called net winners later faced clawback lawsuits by the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee seeking to recover funds for Madoffs victims who were not as fortunate. Promptly, on the next day, the pending motions to set aside the defaults were filed. The total losses to investor victims exceeds $100 million. The Sentencing Commission's relevant policy statement on compassionate release identifies medical conditions that satisfy the "extraordinary and compelling" requirement. Viking advertised itself as operating a high-yield, low-risk investment strategy that offered above-average returns by making secured loans to borrowers at inflated interest rates. On November 13, 2014, this Court sentenced Defendant to a 240-month term of imprisonment followed by a 36-month term of supervised release. Wannakuwatte, who turns 64 next week, has been in jail since February on charges of taking banks and individual investors for more than $100 million. This ruling concludes the federal criminal prosecution; civil proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court are ongoing. See, e.g., United States v. Eberhart, No. He has been held without bail since his arrest in late February. But he walked into court that day and announced that hed fired his original lawyer, Donald Heller, claiming that Heller had coerced him into pleading guilty. 3582(c)(1)(A). In 2014, the. . 501 I Street, Suite 10-100 3582 (C) (1) (A) (i). Show Crime Records Powered by. 20.) Potential investors were told that their investment would be used to purchase the rights to old film footage that then would be used to produce and distribute movies and documentaries. It's time to renew your membership and keep access to free CLE, valuable publications and more. Sacramento businessman Deepal Wannakuwatte indicted on bank fraud According to court documents, from 2002 to 2014, Wannakuwatte convinced nearly 200 victims, including individuals, corporate entities, and financial institutions, to invest in a number of business opportunities by misrepresenting the financial worth of himself and his companies. emailStay Connected According to the indictment, beginning in September 2011, Wannakuwatte sought a line of credit from Bridge Bank. Investors are promised above-average returns that generally carry little risk. Wannakuwattes companies, IMG and Relyaid, were involved in the international manufacture, shipment, and distribution of latex gloves. Losses incurred by the victim financial institutions often threatened their financial stability and reputations. DEEPAL WANNAKUWATTE, Defendant. No Thanks For example, one two-month period resulted in $8,000 in legitimate revenue and $1.7 million in new investments. Next: M.S. Deepal Wannakuwatte - Bio, News, Photos - Washington Times According to prosecutors, Wannakuwatte duped individual investors and professional bankers alike into pouring $150 million into the company over the past decade or so. Wannakuwatte pleaded guilty unusually early in the process. Todays sentencing represents the severity of the fraud committed by Wannakuwatte and those he hurt the most: the victims who fell prey to the massive fraud scheme. In addition to fulfilling their divine duties, Mr. Hibbert told parishioners he could generate monthly returns of up to 8.5% through his skills as a foreign currency trader. Bernie Madoffs scam was merely one of more than 500 Ponzi schemes of $1 million or more that collectively involved over $50. Todays sentencing represents the severity of the fraud committed by Wannakuwatte and those he hurt the most: the victims who fell prey to the massive fraud scheme. In the instant case, it is undisputed that Defendant has met the threshold exhaustion requirement. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. I want to commend the FBI and IRS-CI for detecting and swiftly stopping this scheme before it caused even greater losses., Wanakuwattes victims individuals, businesses, government agencies, venture funds, and financial institutions suffered as his elaborate scheme collapsed. (ECF No. The investigation determined that Wannakuwatte told his investors that two of his companies were involved in the international sale of latex gloves and that it did business with government agencies, in particular the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. And hell be doing that from his jail cell, where hell be serving out his 20-year sentence. In addition, Persaud touted his status as a certified financial planner to assure investors that their funds were safe. The most striking moment came when Ron Ashley of San Rafael, who lost $22 million in the decadelong scheme, turned away from U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley to look directly at Wannakuwatte. 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Since 2008, at least 500 Ponzi schemes were uncovered worldwide, including Bernard Bernie Madoffs legendary $17 billion scheme. Based on the record before it, the Court cannot say that the past prevalence of the disease at USP Lompoc puts Defendant at great and particularized risk. Although the government has initiated proceedings to seize his home in South Land Park, vacation properties in Hawaii and on the Oregon coast, and other assets, its considered unlikely that victims will receive more than pennies on the dollar. In return, those affiliates were handsomely rewarded with daily returns of 1.5%. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Prosecutors said he persuaded his victims to invest in his West Sacramento medical supply company, International Manufacturing Group, by telling them he had contracts worth $100 million to sell latex gloves to veterans hospitals. For more than decade, up until February 2014, Sacramento businessman (and Ponzi scammer extraordinaire) Deepal Wannakuwatte fooled his investors and his lenders into believing that he and his companies were worthy of their trust and their money. (ECF No. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Todays order brings to an end the criminal proceedings against Mr. Wannakuwatte, who operated the largest Ponzi scheme in Sacramento history, said U.S. Attorney Wagner. Authorities also filed criminal charges against financial juggernaut JPMorgan Chase (JPM), accusing the bank of turning a blind eye to Madoffs scheme while serving as his primary banker. What Is the Kenvue IPO Price Range? The victims will never be whole again from the fraud totaling more than $230 million, but rest assured they will have the comfort of knowing Wannakuwatte will be incarcerated for many years to come. Wannakuwatte has filed for bankruptcy protection. Little if any legitimate investing actually takes place, and the Ponzi scheme depends on the continuous flow of funds from new investors to meet obligations to existing investors. Sacramento Businessman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for $100 - FBI Daniel Parrili, John Lauer, and Christopher Anderson met in a Wisconsin prison where, unsurprisingly, they were currently serving time for fraud-related charges. (ECF No. D & A INTERNATIONAL IMPORT . One spoke about having to delay retirement and sell his house to make ends meet. Marlon Gary Hibbert and Verna Hibbert were charged with 38 criminal counts in mid-2013 by Toronto police, who alleged that the pair lived a luxurious lifestyle by misappropriating investor funds. Deepal Wannakuwatte and Betsy are not now, and never have been, members or owners of Sunfire. Persaud was a registered representative with a Florida broker-dealer. The Sacramento, California businessman operated a $230 million medical glove Ponzi scheme. According to court documents, from 2002 to 2014, Wannakuwatte convinced nearly 200 victims, including individuals, corporate entities, and financial institutions, to invest in a number of business opportunities by misrepresenting the financial worth of himself and his companies. After the arrest, the franchise was disbanded by World TeamTennis. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Zions Bank accused of facilitating fraud in California Ponzi scheme However, the reality was that Persaud did not invest in futures markets; instead, his trading strategies were based on lunar cycles and the gravitational pull between Earth and the moon. Therefore, the Court need not address whether Defendant is a danger to the community or the 18 U.S.C. A Toronto pastor and his wife were accused of defrauding more than 200 parishioners out of nearly $9 million under the ruse that they were generating above-average returns through dabbling in foreign-currency trading. 95814, Telephone:(916) 554-2700 Deepal Wannakuwatte, owner of the Las Vegas Neon, was arrested Thursday in Sacramento, Calif., on federal fraud charges. 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