Stephen Condon Peters, Conspiracy to Falsify SEC Records, North Carolina 2017
Raleigh Investment Adviser Charged with Conspiracy to Falsify SEC Records
A federal grand jury in Raleigh, North Carolina, has returned a Superseding Indictment charging Stephen Condon Peters, 45, with four additional charges, including conspiracy to make false statements and documents, making and using false statements and documents, and falsifying and concealing documents during an SEC examination.
The original Indictment, issued in December 2017, included one count of Investment Advisor Fraud; one count of Fraud in the Sale of Unregistered Securities; nine counts of Wire Fraud; four counts of Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property; and one count of Corruptly Endeavoring to Influence a Federal Agency.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that Peters orchestrated the sale of VisionQuest Capital LLC promissory notes, primarily to Visionquest Wealth Management LLC clients, from 2009 to 2017. Peters represented to investors that the notes were a low-risk investment, but in fact, he stole large portions of the investor proceeds and carried out a 'Ponzi' scheme on investors.
Peters faces an additional two years in prison for Aggravated Identity Theft, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and up to 20 years in prison for Falsifying and Concealing Documents During an SEC Examination. He also faces up to five years in prison for Conspiracy to Make False Statements and Documents and Making False Statements and Documents. Peters faces up to $1 million in additional fines and further forfeiture of property.
An indictment is an allegation of a crime, and the defendant is presumed under the law to be innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represents the United States.
Peters is presently set to be arraigned in December 2018 by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever, III.
Defendant: Stephen Condon Peters
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Make False Statements and Documents, Making and Using False Statements and Documents, Falsifying and Concealing Documents During an SEC Examination, Aggravated Identity Theft
City and State: Raleigh, North Carolina
Exact Date: December 2017
Sentence or Outcome: To be arraigned in December 2018
Dollar Amounts: Up to $1 million in additional fines and further forfeiture of property
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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