Collierville Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

Memphis, TN – A local commodity trader pled guilty in federal court yesterday to one count of wire fraud as part of a fraudulent commodities investment scheme. Donald Wray Rodgers, 55, operated an unregistered trading pool under the name Three Bridges Trading Fund. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the guilty plea today.

According to information provided in court, Rodgers lied to investors about the money earned in the pool, providing them false fund performance statements and inflated investment returns. In fact, Rodgers’ trades were causing the fund to lose value each month. After less than one year in operation, Three Bridges Trading Fund was worthless, according to court documents. Rodgers’ criminal misrepresentations to his approximately fifty investors from around the United States led them to lose over $ 2,000,000 in the fund.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.

Rodgers is set to appear before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker for sentencing on March 21, 2024 at 1:30 pm. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III is prosecuting this case on behalf of the federal government.