Silvio Carrano, Mail and Wire Fraud, Florida 2010

Mail and Wire Fraud Schemes Exposed: Silvio Carrano and Gregory Britt Fleming Indicted in Florida

Two individuals, Silvio Carrano and Gregory Britt Fleming, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for their roles in business opportunity fraud schemes. The indictment, issued by a Miami federal grand jury on March 9, 2010, accused the defendants and their co-conspirators of selling vending machine, beverage, and greeting card business opportunities with false promises of assistance in establishing, maintaining, and operating such businesses.

The charges are part of the government's continued nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud. Business opportunity fraud, according to Assistant Attorney General Tony West, imposes significant financial hardship on innocent, hardworking victims. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute those who defraud Americans in an effort to make a quick buck.

Gregory Britt Fleming and Silvio Carrano operated out of Costa Rica, using aliases and various means to make it appear to potential purchasers that the businesses were located entirely in the United States. The defendants admitted that the companies made numerous false statements to potential purchasers of the business opportunities, including false claims of substantial profits, prior purchasers' financial success, and assistance in securing high-traffic locations.

Two other individuals involved in this scheme have been arrested and pleaded guilty. Donald Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud on June 29, 2010, and was sentenced to 78 months in prison on October 27, 2010. Patrick Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, 10 counts of mail fraud, and three counts of wire fraud on January 18, 2011.

The companies involved in the scheme, Apex Management Group Inc., USA Beverages Inc., Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee Inc., Cards-R-Us Inc., Premier Cards Inc., The Coffee Man Inc., and Nation West Distribution Company, operated for several months before closing and reopening under new names. The defendants used bank accounts, office space, and other services in the Southern District of Florida and elsewhere to further their scheme.

The case serves as a reminder that business opportunity schemers can be prosecuted even if they operate from outside the United States. International law enforcement cooperation eliminates safe havens for those who cheat American citizens from overseas.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/two-individuals-plead-guilty-connection-costa-rica-based-business-opportunity-fraud-ventures