Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce the charges filed against Christopher Wayne White, 43, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for three counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. If convicted, White faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison, five years’ supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.

According to the criminal complaint, White was a licensed real estate broker and owner and operator of the Christopher White Group in Fort Lauderdale. White obtained three real estate deposits totaling approximately $595,000—in the amounts of $300,000, $150,000 and $145,000—via wire transfers involving properties in Broward County from three individuals and White refused to return the escrow deposits. The Secretary of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered an emergency suspension of his real estate broker’s license. Any victims or individuals with additional information should contact the FBI Field Office in Miami at 305-944-9101.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and thanked Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Katz and Thomas P. Lanigan.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.