Call Now For a Free Consultation:
(614) 532-4576
Nationwide Representation

Serial Fraudster James Rivera for Green Energy Investment Scam Defrauding Investors

Serial Fraudster Gets 12 Years for Green Energy Investment Scam

United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson sentenced James Rivera to 12 years in prison for the operation of a green energy scheme that defrauded dozens of investors in Maine and across the United States. Judge Wilson also ordered Rivera to pay $1 million in restitution.

According to court documents, Rivera, through various California-based companies, including “Apostles, Inc.” and “Almighty Wind,” solicited investments in a purported new form of windmill technology. Rivera falsely claimed that his companies possessed patents for the purportedly new technology, and distributed technical materials to investors that were designed to make the “wind turbines” appear more viable than they were in reality.

Rivera lured investors through “religious rhetoric and imagery” and lies, according to a California press release. Officials say Rivera represented himself as a devoutly religious person in order to inspire trust, and then blatantly lied to investors about every aspect of the investment. In particular, Rivera falsely claimed that the Nigerian government had committed to purchasing over $1 billion of the windmills, and that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was prepared to provide millions of dollars in financing for the business. A jury convicted Rivera of mail fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud in June 2010.

“We are gratified that Mr. Rivera received the maximum sentence recommended by the prosecutor for bilking dozens of investors, including the Thompsons and others in Maine, out of over a million dollars,” said Maine Securities Administrator Judith M. Shaw.

“Rivera exploited investors by falsely claiming they could trust him because he shared their religious faith. He was in reality nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Rivera was a convicted fraudster with eight criminal convictions on his record, a fact he neglected to tell his investors.

In a release announcing Rivera’s sentence, Maine Administrator Shaw stressed the importance of investor due diligence. “Mr. Rivera has been ordered to pay the victims more than $1 million in restitution, but … The safer course for an investor is to be proactive and to check out the investment with regulators before sending money,” said Shaw.

For tips on how to avoid investment fraud through due diligence, including how to minimize the risk of a Ponzi scheme by choosing the right financial advisor, visit our investor resources library.

The information contained in The Firm’s posts on its blog, fraud alerts, investigations or elsewhere on the site is based upon information obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, news outlets and federal, state, and regulatory agency filings. All suspects and subjects of postings herein are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law or administrative action and any and all crimes are alleged until a court or regulatory agency finds otherwise .

Share This Story
If you found the information provided by this article useful, consider sharing to your social media channels to help others in their search for reliable resources.
Consult with Our Legal Team
There is never a cost associated with a consultation
Atlanta Office

945 East Paces Ferry Road, Suite 2275
Atlanta, GA 30326
Columbus Office

614-224-6000
305 W. Nationwide Blvd
Columbus, OH 43215
Meyer Wilson
New Orleans Office

900 Camp Street 
Suite 337
New Orleans, LA 70130
Los Angeles Office

310-905-8688
2029 Century Park East,
Suite 400N
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Cleveland Office

216-600-1355
4781 Richmond Rd.
Suite 400
Warrensville Heights, OH 44128
Bloomfield Hills Office

248-817-8214
41000 Woodward Ave.,
Suite 350
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Quick Links
The information contained in this Website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. No recipients of content from this site, clients or otherwise, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in the site without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in the recipient's state. Read More
The information contained in this Website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.
Read More
chevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram