Three Las Vegans, Telemarketing Fraud, Nevada 2012
Las Vegas Residents Charged with $5.2 Million Grant Funding Scheme
Three Las Vegas residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding nearly 400 people of over $5 million in connection with a grant funding telemarketing scheme.
Gregory Villegas, aka Ray Matsui, aka Ray Mathis, 34; Christine M. Gagnon, aka Lisa Foster, aka Crystal Waters, 33; and Mickey Gines, 40, all of Las Vegas, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, and 31 counts of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges that through this scheme, the defendants victimized approximately 390 people throughout the United States, 10 of whom were over the age of 55, and obtained approximately $5.2 million in fraudulently obtained funds.
The defendants operated their companies under multiple and evolving names and directed their staff to use aliases, which they routinely changed in communications with customers.
The indictment alleges that the defendants used high-pressure sales tactics and made false statements to customers concerning their ability to deliver grants, when the defendants knew that their true intent was to obtain as much money as possible from the customers, rather than assist them in obtaining grants.
Gregory Villegas, Christine M. Gagnon, and Mickey Gines are scheduled to make initial appearances in court today before United States Magistrate Judge George Foley, Jr. at 2:30 p.m.
If convicted, they face up to 30 years in prison on the conspiracy count, plus up to 10 consecutive years for telemarketing to 10 or more persons over the age of 55, and up to 30 years in prison on each wire fraud count, as well as fines of up to $250,000 per count.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina M. Brown.
This announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.
Defendant: Gregory Villegas, Christine M. Gagnon, Mickey Gines
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, and 31 counts of wire fraud
City and State: Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: March 2008 - May 2, 2012
Sentence or Outcome: Currently awaiting trial
Dollar Amounts: $5.2 million in fraudulently obtained funds
Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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