2023-07-06 DOJ SDNY press_release 119 KB 4,802 chars

Former Partner Of Investment Management Firm Arrested For $1.6 Million Investment Fraud Scheme

Caption
United States v. Joshua Henner, et al.
summary

Joshua Henner, a former investment management firm partner, was arrested for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after allegedly deceiving victims into lending him over $1.6 million under false pretenses of investing in a startup, while misappropriating the funds for personal use and impersonating a lawyer to sustain the fraud.

paragraph

Joshua Henner is charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly soliciting over $1.6 million from victims by falsely claiming he needed funds to purchase additional shares in a startup as an angel investor. In reality, he misappropriated the money for personal use, transferring funds to himself and others, while impersonating a lawyer’s email to fabricate legitimacy. He faces a maximum 20-year sentence for wire fraud and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, with the case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and investigated by the FBI.

narrative

Joshua Henner, a former partner of an investment management firm, was arrested and charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly defrauding victims of at least $1.6 million between May 2022 and December 2022. He deceived investors by falsely claiming to be an angel investor in a startup and asserting that their funds were needed to purchase additional shares to maintain his ownership stake. In truth, Henner misappropriated the money for personal use, transferring it to himself and other individuals without authorization. To reinforce the illusion of legitimacy, he impersonated a lawyer by using the attorney’s name and email address to communicate with victims, fabricating documentation and correspondence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI investigated the scheme, highlighting its damage to both victims and public trust in financial markets. Henner was presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft, as prescribed by federal law.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
financial-fraud (95%)
Court
Southern District of New York
Outcome
charged
Victim loss
$1,600,000
Classified financial-fraud(confidence 95%). EDGAR detection: forms 10-K/10-Q/8-K/NT 10-K· recall 67% / precision 23%. detection rule →
Parties
joshua hennerthis morning
Keywords
hennerinvestmentinvestment fraudvictimsfraudmillionfundsfraud schemeschemelinknewformer partnerpartner investmentinvestment managementmanagement firm

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 2
  • $1.60M $1.6 Million $1M–$10M
  • $1.60M $1.6 million $1M–$10M
Entities 3
  • person joshua henner
  • scheme_term joshua henner with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft
  • person this morning
Triples 12
  • Joshua Henner Solicited Over $1.6 Million From Victims
  • Damian Williams and Christie M. Curtis Announced Unsealing Two-Count Indictment
  • Indictment Charges Joshua Henner with Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
  • Henner Convinced Victims to Loan Him At Least $1.6 Million
  • Henner Misappropriated Funds for His Own Purposes
  • Henner Was Arrested This Morning
  • Joshua Henner Defrauded His Victims of Over $1.6 Million
  • Henner Ran A Scheme That Defrauded Victims
  • Henner Solicited and Obtained Funds From Victims
  • Henner Made Materially False Oral and Written Statements
  • Henner Misappropriated His Victims' Funds
  • Henner Used The Name and Email Address of a Lawyer
View original DOJ press releasejustice.gov
Extracted body text (4,802c)
Press Release Former Partner Of Investment Management Firm Arrested For $1.6 Million Investment Fraud Scheme Thursday, July 6, 2023 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Joshua Henner Allegedly Solicited Over $1.6 Million From Victims On False Pretenses Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) announced the unsealing of a two-count Indictment charging JOSHUA HENNER with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As alleged in the Indictment, HENNER, through false statements and representations, convinced victims to loan him at least $1.6 million for the purpose of investing in a start-up, while, in reality, misappropriating those funds for his own purposes. HENNER was arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Joshua Henner defrauded his victims of over $1.6 million and used those funds to line his own pockets. Investment fraud schemes are all too common. Thanks to our partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Henner will now be held accountable for his conduct.” FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis said: “The defendant is alleged to have to conducted an investment fraud scheme, based on misrepresentations and falsehoods, in order to misappropriate more than $1.6 million in investor funds. Investment fraud schemes cause harm to victims directly involved, but also weaken the public's faith in the financial marketplace. Investigating and holding the individuals responsible for complex financial schemes accountable remains a top focus for the FBI.” As alleged in the Indictment[1]: From at least in or about May 2022 through at least in or about December 2022, HENNER ran a scheme that defrauded victims out of at least $1.6 million. HENNER solicited and obtained funds from victims based on representations that he had been an angel investor in a start-up (the “Company”) and that he needed funds to purchase additional shares in the Company to maintain his investment position. To induce victims to give him funds, HENNER routinely made materially false oral and written statements, including lies about his previous investment in the Company and his ownership interest in the Company. Without their knowledge or authorization, HENNER misappropriated his victims’ funds by, among other things, transferring the funds to himself and other individuals. During and in relation to the scheme, HENNER used, without authorization, the name and email address of a lawyer purportedly involved in the investments to communicate via email with his victims and foster the illusion that he was using the funds that his victims lent him for their intended purposes. * * * HENNER, 35, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. v. Henner Indictment [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase (212)-637-2600 Updated July 6, 2023 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 23-237
OCR text (4,802c · html-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Former Partner Of Investment Management Firm Arrested For $1.6 Million Investment Fraud Scheme Thursday, July 6, 2023 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Joshua Henner Allegedly Solicited Over $1.6 Million From Victims On False Pretenses Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) announced the unsealing of a two-count Indictment charging JOSHUA HENNER with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. As alleged in the Indictment, HENNER, through false statements and representations, convinced victims to loan him at least $1.6 million for the purpose of investing in a start-up, while, in reality, misappropriating those funds for his own purposes. HENNER was arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Joshua Henner defrauded his victims of over $1.6 million and used those funds to line his own pockets. Investment fraud schemes are all too common. Thanks to our partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Henner will now be held accountable for his conduct.” FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis said: “The defendant is alleged to have to conducted an investment fraud scheme, based on misrepresentations and falsehoods, in order to misappropriate more than $1.6 million in investor funds. Investment fraud schemes cause harm to victims directly involved, but also weaken the public's faith in the financial marketplace. Investigating and holding the individuals responsible for complex financial schemes accountable remains a top focus for the FBI.” As alleged in the Indictment[1]: From at least in or about May 2022 through at least in or about December 2022, HENNER ran a scheme that defrauded victims out of at least $1.6 million. HENNER solicited and obtained funds from victims based on representations that he had been an angel investor in a start-up (the “Company”) and that he needed funds to purchase additional shares in the Company to maintain his investment position. To induce victims to give him funds, HENNER routinely made materially false oral and written statements, including lies about his previous investment in the Company and his ownership interest in the Company. Without their knowledge or authorization, HENNER misappropriated his victims’ funds by, among other things, transferring the funds to himself and other individuals. During and in relation to the scheme, HENNER used, without authorization, the name and email address of a lawyer purportedly involved in the investments to communicate via email with his victims and foster the illusion that he was using the funds that his victims lent him for their intended purposes. * * * HENNER, 35, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. v. Henner Indictment [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase (212)-637-2600 Updated July 6, 2023 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 23-237