A Tennessee man has been convicted for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that affected individuals nationwide. Alcides Roman, 66, from Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud according to court documents.
Roman operated under the company name Remain in Control LLC and defrauded a victim in Overland Park, Kansas by promising investment opportunities with attractive returns. Between June 2020 and October 2020, the victim made several wire transfers into Roman's company account and received "returns" which were actually partial amounts from their own investments. When payments ceased, Roman offered excuses to maintain the victim's trust.
Additional victims were located in New York City; Houston, Texas; and Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The total known loss from identified victims is $1,977,857.88.
Funds obtained through these schemes were used by Roman for personal expenses including purchasing vehicles and land. He also sent money to various foreign and domestic companies and provided purported "returns" to other investors involved.
Roman's sentencing is set for June 26, 2025. He could face up to 20 years in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is handling the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Huschka is prosecuting.
Individuals who believe they may have been affected by this scheme are encouraged to contact the FBI at 816-512-8200 or visit https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
