Last of Three Defendants Sentenced in Connection with Investment Fraud Involving Purported Real Estate Developments

TAMPA, FL—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday sentenced Deidra Bryant Peterson (51, Brooksville) to 36 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The court also ordered Peterson to forfeit: the real property located at 38764 Vulcan Circle, Zephyrhills, Florida, and the manufactured home maintained on the property; a 2005 Ford F150 SuperCrew-V8 SuperCrew XLT 4WD; a 2007 Ford 250 Super Duty-V8 Crew Cab XL 4WD, and a 2006 Keystone Springdale 281RKL travel trailer, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. As part of her sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $6,469,391.00, additional proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.

Deidra Bryant Peterson pled guilty on June 7, 2011.

According to court documents, Deidra Bryant Peterson conspired with her husband, David Gary Peterson, and her stepson, David Gary Peterson, Jr., to falsely and fraudulently persuade numerous victims to invest in several purported real estate development projects. From at least as early as July 2005, and continuing through at least August 2007, the Petersons created various entities ostensibly for the purpose of developing real estate projects, opened bank accounts in the names of the entities, used the entities to promote the purported real estate development projects, and solicited investments in the purported real estate development projects from victim-investors. The entities include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort, Inc.; (2) LTG Partners, Inc., (3) Lake Harris Yacht Club, LLC, (4) The Enclave at the Southern Cross Ranch, LCC; (5) First PRA Holdings, LLC; (6) Florida Pacific Financial Services Corp.; (7) Sky Dreams Foundation, Inc.; (8) Sky Dreams Helicopter Academy; (9) N727LJ, LLC; and (10) Mineral Extraction Partners, Inc. Using these entities, the Petersons raised approximately $9,940,318.01 from victim-investors.

Unbeknownst to the victim-investors, the Petersons used the victim-investors’ money for real estate development projects other than those in which the victims thought they had invested and otherwise for their personal enrichment. For example, Deidra Bryant Peterson and her husband, David Gary Peterson, used funds raised from victim-investors, without the victim-investors’ knowledge or consent, for, among other things, purchases of the following: (1) a single-family residence located at 31348 Spoonflower Way, Brooksville, Florida; (2) real property located a 38764 Vulcan Circle, Zephyrhills, Florida, as well as the manufactured home maintained on the property; (3) a Lear Jet 25; (4) a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter; (5) two limousines; (6) a 2005 Ford F150 SuperCrew-V8 SuperCrew XLT 4WD; (7) a 2007 Ford F250 Super Duty-V8 Crew Cab XL 4WD; and (8) a 2006 Keystone Springdale 281RKL travel trailer.

Deidra Bryant Peterson’s husband, David Gary Peterson, also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to seven years in federal prison on September 12, 2011.

David Gary Peterson, Jr. also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to a five-year term of probation for his role in the fraud scheme.

This case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.