A former lobbyist from South Carolina has been charged with obstructing justice in connection with an ongoing federal investigation into a multi-million dollar high-yield investment fraud scheme.
Christopher Petrella, 51, of Greer, South Carolina, was arrested yesterday and charged in the Western District of North Carolina with one count of obstruction of justice.
Petrella worked as a lobbyist for Niyato Industries Inc., which was involved in a high-yield investment scheme that raised money from investors by representing that the company manufactured electric and compressed natural gas automobiles when, in truth, the company had no facilities, no operations, and no capability to manufacture anything.
The indictment alleges that Petrella attempted to obstruct, influence, and impede the ongoing federal investigation into the alleged Niyato fraud, as well as the upcoming trial, by misleading federal law enforcement about his own involvement with Niyato and by portraying himself as a whistleblower.
Petrella is also accused of producing a bogus ‘quarterly report’ related to his lobbying work for Niyato, and falsely claiming that he had filed the report with the U.S. Congress.
The indictment was returned on Tuesday and unsealed yesterday. Petrella’s initial court appearance is scheduled for October 24 at 10:40 a.m. in the Western District of North Carolina.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Trial Attorneys William Bowne and Christopher Fenton are prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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