Local Attorney Dale P. Zucker Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Running Ponzi Scheme
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 27, 2010 |
Dale P. Zucker was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for perpetrating a Ponzi scheme and related crimes, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today.
Zucker, of Chagrin Falls, pled guilty earlier this year to six charges: two counts of mail fraud, three counts of failing to pay income taxes, and one count of failure to appear. He was sentenced to 93 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaughan.
“The defendant used his position of trust to lure people in and defraud them of their hard-earned money,” Dettelbach said.
Zucker used his position as an attorney and a local businessman to convince clients and acquaintances into loaning him money for businesses that either had long-ceased to exist or never existed at all, according to court records.
He also plead to failing to appear for trial after he had been ordered to appear in court for trial on January 26, 2010, but did not do so.
This case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bridget M. Brennan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Marshal Service and Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.