While restitution has been ordered in a complicated Fresno Ponzi scheme case, victims are unlikely to see much of their lost cash again. The Fresno County Superior Court has ordered $46.5 million be paid to over 1,200 investors, who are mostly from Fresno’s Armenian-American community. A securities fraud attorney in the case has stated that the victims of the alleged Ponzi scheme should receive something, “but it will be pennies on the dollar.”John W. Otto allegedly ran the scheme through three companies he created: HL Leasing Inc., Heritage Pacific Leasing, and Air Fred LLC. Many arrests were made in the case, and several employees of the companies have been held liable. Otto committed suicide in 2009, further complicating the case, but his wife and two employees took part in the three-week trial for the California Ponzi scheme.According to officials, the Ponzi scheme targeted members of both St. Paul’s Armenian Church and Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. The investment fraud spread through the congregations by word of mouth once the initial investors saw returns. Unfortunately, it is alleged that the money taken in was being used to pay off previous investors instead of going into the American Express lease agreements that were promised. It is alleged that Otto’s wife and employees knew about the Ponzi scheme, but kept quiet in order to fund their lavish personal expenses.David P. Meyer & Associates represents victims of California Ponzi schemes in stockbroker mediation, arbitration, and litigation. We are respected investment fraud attorneys and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
Recovering Losses Caused by Investment Misconduct.