High Yield Investment Schemes - January 8, 2008

High yield investment always leads to one of two things; loss of money or prison depending which side of the case you are on. In an announcement from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Second Circuit, Edwin Tolentino Garcia, 48, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay $124, 446 to the victims of his elaborate scheme.

Two of his co-defendants Daniel Wheatley and Sunshine Simmons plead guilty earlier on October 23, 2007. The scam involved transmitting internet advertising on high-yield investment programs in which 9,756 people lost over $684, 388. The defendants admitted that they knew that there was no such thing as a high-yield program and instead used the money to buy cars, homes, jewelry and furs.

The Criminal Division of the Secret Service and the IRS conducted the investigation that forced the defendants to lose property valued at over $300,000, a Mercedes C230, a Hummer H2, furniture, jewelry, and computers over $200,000 cash. In addition, Wheatly and Simmons each had to pay $124,446 in restitution.