A Sarasota man has been indicted on charges related to an alleged investment fraud scheme in Southwest Florida. The indictment against Brent Adam Seaman, 51, was unsealed by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe in Fort Myers. Seaman faces five counts of wire fraud, four counts of money laundering, and two counts of making a false tax return.
If convicted, Seaman could receive up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, up to 10 years for each money laundering count, and up to three years for each count of making a false tax return.
The indictment states that from June 2019 to November 2022, while living in Naples, Florida, Seaman operated several Florida LLCs under the name “Accanito.” He allegedly presented himself as a successful investor and entrepreneur and promised investors guaranteed returns. According to the indictment, he caused significant losses for investors and used new investor funds to pay earlier investors.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Seaman spent investor money on personal expenses such as rent payments, purchasing a Ferrari and jewelry, and chartering a private jet. He is also accused of underreporting his income on his federal tax returns for 2019 and 2020.
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation led the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan and Trial Attorney Timothy J. Coley from the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section will prosecute the case.
