FRAUD STOPPERS:
Real life stories of investment fraud
Johnson County man sentenced to 18 years
for running a Ponzi scheme
Scam bilked investors out of over $100,000
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Pameijer portrayed himself as an expert financial advisor and then use his sham company, Plan America, LLC, to sell fraudulent investment contracts and securities in the form of promissory notes to the unsuspecting victims.
Neither Pameijer nor Plan America were registered to sell securities in the State of Indiana. He scammed his clients by guaranteeing their initial investment and promised high rates of return. In some instances, Pameijer exploited family and friends. He would even persuade some of his clients to terminate existing annuities & liquidate retirement accounts to fund the investment, despite the substantial penalties.
“This case is a classic example of a Ponzi scheme,” said Secretary Lawson. “Pameijer would prey on the personal relationship and trust that he had established with his victims. He would manipulate the facts about the investment and his credentials.
“Unfortunately, Pameijer could have been stopped in his tracks. Neither his company nor his products were ever registered with our office. If only one investor would have called my office or checked our online database, his scheme would have crumbled. I hope this serves as a reminder to always make sure the investment product and the provider are properly registered with my office.”
Johnson County Judge Mark Loyd sentenced Pameijer to a total of 18 years. Eight of the years were suspended with the remaining 10 years to be served in prison. Pameijer was also ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution.
On June 9, 2014, Rudolf “Rudi” Pameijer of Trafalgar was sentenced to 18 years and ordered him to pay $1.8 million in restitution for his role in a Ponzi scheme that bilked 24 investors from Johnson and Hendricks counties and the State of Colorado for more than $1.5 million.