Alexander S. Rowland, Ponzi Scheme, Pennsylvania 2024

PHILADELPHIA – Former unlicensed investment adviser Alexander S. Rowland, 30, formerly of Penns Grove, NJ, has been sentenced to nine years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $2.1 million restitution to his victims by United States District Court Judge Karen Spencer Marston, for defrauding more than 120 clients who thought they were investing money with Rowland’s company, Roaring Investments, Inc.

Rowland pleaded guilty in April 2021 to four counts of mail fraud, 16 counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count of investment adviser fraud. As part of his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he started Roaring Investments in July 2016 and falsely held himself out to potential investors as a licensed investment adviser who would invest their money in stocks and cryptocurrency, and he promised his clients a minimum return of 25% with potential returns of 50% or higher. None of these statements were true.

Through these and other misrepresentations, Rowland was able to convince investors to invest almost $3 million in Roaring Investments. Rowland admitted that he actually only invested a little over $500,000 of the funds he obtained from his clients, and that his investments were a flop, losing more than $100,000. Rowland spent more than $1 million of his client’s funds on himself, including payments for vacations and luxury vehicles, jewelry, and more than $47,000 worth of firearms.

“Rowland talked a big game about the returns his company could produce through investments in stock and cryptocurrency, but it was all a lie. Instead, he funded his own lavish lifestyle in a manner no better than a common thief,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. “And when he was caught, he continued to lie. The defendant is clearly a determined fraudster who needed to be taken off the street.”

“Alexander Rowland lured investors in by promising astronomical returns on their money,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Instead, he took full advantage of their trust and lived high on the hog at their expense. Ponzi schemes can be simply devastating for their victims. That’s why the FBI and our law enforcement partners are so determined to bring this kind of financial fraud to light, and perpetrators like Rowland to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

Rowland was also ordered to forfeit more than $1.4 million in criminal proceeds that he earned, as well as nine firearms that he purchased with fraud proceeds.

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