BENJAMIN M. GELLER, 53, CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD
Austin, Texas resident Benjamin M. Geller, 53, has been charged with wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente. Geller, a former sports agent, was employed by Frank W. Warren, III, a former NFL player who played with the New Orleans Saints.
In or around 1994, Geller assisted Warren in obtaining a life insurance policy worth approximately $1,000,000. The life insurance proceeds were set to fund a trust established by Warren and Geller for the benefit of Warren’s spouse and family. Geller was named trustee of the trust.
In or around 2002, Warren died, and the funds from the life insurance policy were disbursed to a trust in Warren’s name for the benefit of his widowed spouse and family. From in or around 2003 through in or around 2007, Geller acted as the trustee of the trust and was only permitted to expend funds as the trust provided; he was not permitted to expend trust funds for his own personal use.
Despite this prohibition, Geller unlawfully defrauded the trust and its beneficiary by spending over $500,000 in trust funds for his own personal use, including for travel, lodging, and entertainment purposes. Geller also spent some of the $500,000 in trust funds for his own personal businesses, as well as for other miscellaneous purchases.
The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Geller’s current status is pending. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge [Judge’s Name].
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente praised the work of the FBI and IRS in bringing this case to justice.
BENJAMIN M. GELLER, age 53, a resident of Austin, Texas, was charged today in a one-count bill of information with wire fraud.
Related Federal Cases
- BENJAMIN M. GELLER, Wire Fraud, Texas 2007 · Louisiana
- Michael David Pitts, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2014 · Louisiana
- Leonard James McMorris, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Louisiana 2007 · Louisiana
- Wade Barbay, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2016 · Louisiana
- Richard Walter Borek Jr., Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2016 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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