Ronnie C. Rodgers, Mail Fraud Conspiracy, Kentucky 2023

Ronnie Rodgers

A 62-year-old man from Columbia, Kentucky has been convicted of running a mail fraud conspiracy that swindled investors out of millions.

According to court records, Ronnie C. Rodgers, 62, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud. Between 2007 and 2017, he and his brother, Ricky Rodgers, sold interests in oil and gas exploration ventures in South Central Kentucky and Tennessee.

The brothers targeted investors in Adair, Clinton, Pulaski, and Warren Counties, using false and misleading representations about the chances of hitting productive oil wells, the length of time the wells would produce, and the amount of profit the investors could expect.

The investments, totaling around $10 million, were sold under the names Rick-Rod Oil, Big South Resources, R&R Plus, and Hydro & Green Global Energy. The scam was uncovered by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Securities.

United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove has scheduled a sentencing hearing for December 5, 2018, in Frankfort. Rodgers faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the single count of conspiracy.

The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Taylor and Neeraj Gupta. This case is a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence when investing in high-risk ventures. It’s also a warning to scammers that law enforcement will not hesitate to take action when it comes to protecting the public from financial predators.

[Image description: Ronnie Rodgers, 62, convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud]

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