Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that DAVID C. JACKSON, also known as “C. David Manns,” 53, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with operating an advance fee fraud scheme that defrauded individuals out of more than $3 million. JACKSON was arrested in Maryland on August 26, 2014.

According to the criminal complaint, JACKSON was convicted of federal bank fraud and money laundering charges in October 2006 and was sentenced to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He was released from federal prison in September 2009.

The complaint alleges that, in approximately September 2009, JACKSON, using the alias “C. David Manns,” established Jalin Realty Capital Advisors, LLC, using a business address in Dayton, Ohio. In 2011, JACKSON changed the name of his business to American Capital Holdings, LLC, using business addresses in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Soon after changing the business name, JACKSON began introducing himself to victim clients as “Charles Jackson.”

The complaint alleges that JACKSON defrauded individuals, including Connecticut residents, who wired him funds in anticipation of receiving a large business loan. The upfront fees were alternately described as “application fees,” “collateral fees” and “commitment fees.” JACKSON promised the individuals a refund of the upfront fees each had provided if the loan transaction was not completed.

Through this alleged scheme, more than 20 individuals provided JACKSON with a total of more than $3 million in advance fees for business loans that were never provided. A few individuals received a partial refund of advance fees they had provided, but the refunds were made using fees that had been paid by other victims.

JACKSON, who has resided in Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania, has been detained since his arrest.

The criminal complaint charges JACKSON with wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ansonia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Kaplan and Michael McGarry.

Citizens with information that may be helpful to this ongoing investigation are encouraged to contact the FBI at (203) 777-6311.