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Press Release

Miami Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Operating Investment Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

MIAMI – On Feb. 22, Jack Connor Ridall, 29, of Miami, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, for operating an investment fraud scheme.

Ridall defrauded victims out of approximately $735,000, by falsely indicating he would use their money for various investments. Ridall was the founder and sole member of Stratcapital LLC, Guss Capital, LLC, and Guss Actium Manager, LLC. Using these three companies, Ridall succeeded in causing at least three people to provide him money based on his material misrepresentations. The false statements Ridall made to these victims included (a) Ridall’s investing experience and performance, (b) the use of investor funds for purposes other than those that he promised, and (c) the safety of the investment. Ridall also falsely told his victims, among other things, that his companies were investment management companies with substantial assets. Ridall did not invest investor funds in securities or in an investment fund, but instead he misappropriated investor funds to pay for luxury retail purchases, hotel stays, restaurants, and fraudulent transfers to family members. When victims asked Ridall for updates on their investments, he provided forged attorney letters and audit reports indicating that the victims' investments yielded high rates of return.

In Nov. 2023, Ridall pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement. 

FBI Miami investigated the case. The Securities and Exchange Commission provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture. 

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20152.

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Contact

Public Affairs Unit

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Southern District of Florida

USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov

Updated February 26, 2024

Topics
Financial Fraud
Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud