Washington Depot Resident Charged with Defrauding Investors
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 22, 2011 |
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned an indictment today charging ROBIN BRUHJELL BRASS, 55, of Washington Depot, with four counts of mail fraud stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme.
The indictment alleges that, from approximately March 2009 to approximately November 2011, BRASS, acting as a principal of The BBR Group, Nibor Investment Fund, LLC, and Creative Financial Services, Inc., and representing herself as a successful investment advisor, solicited funds from investors. BRASS would tell potential investors that their money would be safe if invested with her because she had a formula for investing that ensured against loss and guaranteed a good return on investment. However, BRASS failed to invest all of the funds entrusted with her and used some of the money to pay personal expenses for herself and her family, such as mortgage and credit card bills, college tuition bills, home furnishings, clothing, and to make “lulling” payments to previous investors.
The indictment further alleges that BRASS sent fraudulent account statements to certain investors that made it appear as if their investments were performing well.
If convicted, BRASS faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
BRASS has been detained since her arrest on November 15, 2011.
U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the State of Connecticut Department of Banking. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan L. Wines.
In December 2010, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and several law enforcement and regulatory partners announced the formation of the Connecticut Securities, Commodities and Investor Fraud Task Force, which is investigating matters relating to insider trading, market manipulation, Ponzi schemes, investor fraud, financial statement fraud, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and embezzlement. The Task Force includes representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section and Antitrust Division; U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP); Office of the Chief State’s Attorney; State of Connecticut Department of Banking; Greenwich Police Department and Stamford Police Department.
Citizens are encouraged to report any financial fraud schemes by calling, toll free, 855-236-9740, or by sending an e-mail to ctsecuritiesfraud@ic.fbi.gov.