Christopher Burns, $10 Million Investment Fraud, Georgia 2023

ATLANTA – A former financial adviser from Berkeley Lake has been indicted for his role in an investment fraud scheme that defrauded dozens of investors of millions of dollars.

Christopher Burns, age 40, is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and four counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that Burns stole millions of dollars from his clients by promising safe investments that would yield high rates of return.

According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Burns obtained the trust of his clients to fund his lavish lifestyle. He used investors' money to repay prior investors and to fund his business and his lavish lifestyle.

The scheme allegedly involved several entities, including Investus Advisers, LLC, Investus Financial, LLC, Dynamic Money, and Peer Connect, LLC. Investors were promised that their money would be loaned to businesses that needed financing with little to no risk.

Burns has not been seen since he left his home on September 24, 2020, one day before he was scheduled to relinquish documents related to his businesses to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The vehicle he was driving was found abandoned in Dunwoody, Georgia, with copies of three cashier's checks totaling more than $78,000.

The FBI is still seeking the public's help in locating Burns. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the FBI-Atlanta field office at 770-216-3000 or go to tips.fbi.gov.

The indictment only contains charges, and Burns is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison B. Prout is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/fugitive-financial-advisor-indicted-10-million-investment-fraud-scheme