A brazen real estate scam, orchestrated by a recidivist fraudster, has landed a Brooklyn resident in federal court.
Wilson Baston, 62, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested this morning in New York and presented in federal court this afternoon, charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The indictment, unsealed in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Baston engaged in a scheme to defraud investors in a series of purported real estate investments managed by Gordon Management Group (GMG) between 2018 and 2023.
According to the allegations, Baston used investor money to fund personal expenses, including payments to a luxury carmaker, and to repay money owed to other investors, rather than using the funds for real estate transactions as promised.
Baston allegedly used a fake name, ‘Chanon Gordon,’ to conceal his prior convictions and solicit more than $10 million from investors, who were promised guaranteed short-term, high rates of return on investments.
The FBI will continue to ensure that fraudsters like Baston are held responsible for their scams in the criminal justice system.
Baston’s scheme, a classic Ponzi scheme, guaranteed large returns on investment but proved too good to be true.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to stopping recidivist fraudsters like Baston and seeking justice for victims of financial frauds.
Related Federal Cases
- Landsman Real Estate Services, Inc. CEO Roche, Tenant Harassment, New York 2023 · Alabama
- Xi Hui Steven Wu, Real Estate Fraud, New York 2023 · Alabama
- Christopher Ferguson, Scheme to Inflate Order Numbers, New York 2023 · New York
- Kenneth Thom Pleads Guilty to Investment Scam, New York NY, 2026 · Connecticut
- Kenneth Thom, Investment Adviser Fraud, New York NY, 2026 · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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