Two New York Residents Convicted of Operating $12 Million Ponzi Scheme
Quote:
Two New York Residents Convicted of Operating $12 Million Ponzi Scheme That Victimized Numerous Atlanta Investors
ATLANTA—A jury in federal district court has returned a guilty verdict today against Andrew S. Mackey, 62, and his common-law wife, Inger L. Jensen, 54, both of Cedarhurst, New York, for operating a Ponzi scheme, announced Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. The scheme was marketed by the defendants through their company, ASM Financial Funding Corporation, as a “Wealth Enhancement Club,” and was touted as an investment program for a small and select group of sophisticated investors.
United States Attorney Yates said of today’s verdict, “As the witnesses and the evidence proved at trial, this was a tragic case of fraud that victimized more than 150 people. The victims thought they were investing in legitimate offshore business opportunities, but it was in fact a Ponzi scheme that netted Mackey and Jensen over $12 million. We hope that the jury’s verdict has brought some measure of justice to the many victims of this fraud.”
Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “The FBI dedicates substantial resources to investigating these types of investment or Ponzi schemes in an effort to protect the public from such individuals as Mr. Mackey and Ms. Jensen. While the FBI is proud of the role it plays in assisting the victims of such greed, it is important for investors to be cautious and to question such promises of high returns.”
The trial lasted eight days before United States District Judge William S. Duffey, Jr. The jury deliberated approximately five hours before reaching guilty verdicts on 15 of the 17 counts charged. Mackey and Jensen were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 20, 2010 on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.
The complete press release can be read on the FBI site HERE
