Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud Charges in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE – Joseph Lawler, 54, of Peoria, Ariz., entered a guilty plea in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a 12-count superseding indictment charging him with wire fraud offenses.
The superseding indictment alleges that between Aug. 2010 and July 2014, Lawler engaged in an illegal scheme to defraud investors of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lawler pled guilty to all 12 counts of the superseding indictment, which was filed on June 9, 2015. The indictment alleges that Lawler used Projaris and the bank accounts to execute a scheme to defraud investors in Projaris by making false representations to obtain investment funds.
According to the indictment, Lawler falsely represented to investors that their funds would be invested in gold, silver, real estate, or real estate investment trust funds. Instead, Lawler used investors’ funds to pay other Projaris investors who threatened to report him to law enforcement authorities, as well as for his living expenses and vehicles.
The superseding indictment includes forfeiture allegations which assert that Lawler derived at least $288,889.50 as a result of his criminal conduct and which require that Lawler forfeit money or assets in that amount.
Joseph Lawler faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the 12 wire fraud charges in the superseding indictment. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara C. Neda.
Related Federal Cases
- Remon Issa Daniel, Wire Fraud, California 2016 · Kansas
- Alan Leschyshyn, Wire Fraud, Texas 2017 · Colorado
- Michael Boyce, Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion, Delaware 2023 · Washington
- Allen Dean Gordon Clayborn, Wire Fraud, Michigan 2016 · Washington
- Ronald S. Schoenfeld, Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud, California 2007 · Colorado
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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