New York Paralegal Blog

JACKSONVILLE, FL—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces today that Steven Beumel (48, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product resulting in death, four counts of tampering with a consumer product resulting in serious bodily injury, and five counts of stealing Fentanyl by deception. Beumel faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He was arrested by FBI agents on May 24, 2011 and has remained in custody since his arrest. A sentencing date has not been yet scheduled.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the indictment of STEVEN BINGAMAN, 54, and his corporate entities he controlled for stealing approximately $1.2 million from at least nine victims in a securities fraud and Ponzi scheme. BINGAMAN and his entities were previously indicted in January 2011 for stealing money from two victims for similar criminal conduct. The indictments charge BINGAMAN and his corporate entities with Grand Larceny, Money Laundering, Forgery in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, Falsifying Business Records, Scheme to Defraud, and Securities Fraud.[1] “The defendant’s victims relied on him to conduct his business affairs with honesty and integrity, but he instead squandered their money to pay for his multiple homes, a Las Vegas bookie, and other personal expenses,” District Attorney Vance said. “This office will continue to root out and prosecute self-serving swindlers who steal from investors and create mistrust ...

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN BYERS, the former president and chief executive officer of the private equity firm WexTrust Capital, LLC (“WexTrust Capital”), was sentenced today to 160 months in prison on charges stemming from a fraud that raised more than $9 million from investors in private placement real estate offerings. BYERS, 48, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge DENNY CHIN. Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “Steven Byers used smoke and mirrors to defraud his investors out of millions of dollars. But his scheme was ultimately exposed for the sham that it was, and now he will be punished severely for his crimes.” According to the indictment and other documents previously filed in Manhattan federal court: From 2003 to 2008, WexTrust Capital was a globally diversified private equity company specializing in investments in real estate and specialty finance oppo...