A self-proclaimed “lottery legal professional” who represented America’s largest winners has been sentenced to 13 years in federal jail for defrauding purchasers out of $107 million.
Jason Kurland, 49, was convicted final July of wire fraud, sincere service wire fraud and cash laundering. He used his place as a trusted authorized professional to lure purchasers into investing in secretly owned firms whereas receiving unlawful “discoverer charges” to dealer offers.
Kurland has positioned himself as America’s premier lottery authorized professional and likewise owned URLlotterylawyer.com. Amongst his purchasers was the most important lottery winner in historical past, an nameless South Carolina particular person who took residence the $1.5 billion Mega Hundreds of thousands jackpot in 2018.
Cheddar Capital
Kurland’s aspect enterprise was a money advance enterprise known as Cheddar Capital, whose companions included Frankie Russo, son of the late Joseph “Jojo” Russo of the Colombo crime household.
In 2018, Kurland, Russo and their third companion within the enterprise, Frank Smuckler, met with Lengthy Island jeweler Greg Altieri.
Altieri informed Trio that he might purchase jewellery at “clearance” costs after which flip it round for a revenue of 30% to 70%, however he wanted capital. Sensing a “certain” money-making alternative, Kurland persuaded lottery prospects to take a position about $80 million within the enterprise.
The FBI arrested Altieri in 2020 for operating a large pyramid scheme. The Cheddar Capital trio panicked and began chasing losses. They discovered an organization in California planning to provide private protecting tools as a pandemic swept throughout the nation.
Kurland satisfied an nameless South Carolina winner to take a position $19.5 million within the scheme. When informed twice that he would want that quantity, he merely raised the remainder of the cash himself from a buyer’s checking account he managed.
dangerous funding
PPE firms have additionally turned out to be shady companies. The enterprise was run by Christopher Kierchio, a well known Genovese crime household soldier, however Kurland by no means profited from the funding.
Kierchio pleaded responsible final week to wire fraud and cash laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 5 years in jail. He was additionally ordered to forfeit $26.5 million and pay damages of $30.5 million.
Kurland was the one defendant within the case who didn’t plead responsible. His legal professional claimed he was a sufferer of different individuals. The jury disagreed with this.
Kurland’s legal professional, Telemachus Kasulis, stated: Related Press He disagreed with the choice and stated he deliberate to enchantment.
A choice will probably be made throughout the subsequent 90 days in regards to the quantity that Kurland might want to confiscate and pay as compensation, prosecutors stated.
(tag translation) sport enterprise
