Brian Thomas Sapp, Identity Theft, Ponzi Scheme, Wire Fraud, Virginia 2019

Identity Thief Pleads Guilty to Operating $1.4 Million Ponzi Scheme in Virginia

Alexandria, VA - An Alexandria man pleaded guilty today to running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 20 victims of more than $1.4 million. Brian Thomas Sapp, 38, ran a company called Novus Properties, which purported to have relationships with banks and mortgage lenders who wished to sell distressed lender-owned properties.

According to court documents, Sapp raised capital from investors to loan him money to be used in the purchase of the homes, which he claimed he would resell 90 days later at a substantial profit. Sapp promised rates of return as high as 25 percent, and falsely claimed to have a guaranteed buyer for all his properties, usually a real Alexandria-based construction company.

To execute the scheme, Sapp stole the identity of the president of the construction company. Sapp, using a cloud-based platform called DocuSign, executed false contracts between Novus and the construction company, using the same IP address within minutes of each other to affix both his own digital signature as seller for Novus and the digital signature of the victim construction company president as buyer.

Sapp would send the purchase contracts to victims, along with falsified HUD-1 Settlement Statement summaries, as evidence that he had purchased the properties and already contracted to re-sell them. Altogether, Sapp executed hundreds of false real estate transactions to induce victims to part with money. In truth, Sapp did not close on deals and used victim money to buy a Mercedes, take golf vacations, and to make lulling payments to investors. Sapp targeted close friends and their family who trusted him.

Sapp pleaded guilty to wire fraud and to aggravated identity theft and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for the identity theft charge, and a maximum of 20 years for the wire fraud charge, when sentenced on March 15, 2019. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Defendant: Brian Thomas Sapp, 38, of Alexandria, VA. Charges: Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft. City and state: Alexandria, VA. Date: March 15, 2019. Sentence: Mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for the identity theft charge, and a maximum of 20 years for the wire fraud charge.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-446.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/identity-thief-pleads-guilty-operating-14-million-ponzi-scheme