LAS VEGAS (CN) - Three Las Vegas men defrauded small business owners of $3.5 million with promises of bogus government grants, federal prosecutors say.
Arraigned on fraud charges Thursday were Michael Jones, 35, Jason Demko, 38, and Mike Guariglia, 47. A grand jury charged them all with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and criminal forfeiture.
They ran their game from December 2010 to the spring of 2013, U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
"Advance-fee fraud schemes are common and perpetrated for the sole purpose of enriching the fraudsters," Bogden said in a statement. He said this case was just one of "a number" his office is prosecuting.
These defendants used several business names in the fraud, including Summit Business Consultants, Inner Circle, Sierra Investment Group and Valley Business Development, and moved the businesses around, according to the indictment.
If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison a $250,000 fine on all counts.
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