Wynn A.D. Charlebois, Wire Fraud & Money Laundering, North Carolina 2023

A Charlotte man has been charged with perpetrating a multi-million dollar fraudulent investment scheme that caused at least 39 victim investors and entities to lose over $5.3 million.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from 2015 through October 2022, Wynn A.D. Charlebois, 52, of Charlotte, used companies he owned and controlled, including WC Private, Wilcox Hybrid, Damon Investments, and others, to perpetrate the scheme.

Charlebois recruited victim investors, including friends, family members, and social acquaintances, by falsely promising their money would be invested in risk-free investments, subscription agreements, and loans.

Instead of using the investors’ money as promised, Charlebois allegedly used the funds to make Ponzi-style payments to other investors and on personal expenses, including private school tuition, mortgage payments, luxury travel, and meals at restaurants.

Charlebois was released on bond following his court appearance and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud charge, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the six money laundering counts, if convicted.

The FBI and USPIS investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is handling the prosecution.

The details contained in this indictment are allegations. Charlebois is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An indictment was unsealed today in federal court charging Wynn A.D. Charlebois with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a multi-million dollar investment fraud scheme, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Michael C. Scherck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Charlotte Division, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

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