Three men who claimed to be movie financiers were indicted Tuesday for allegedly defrauding investors of $12 million given to fund at least two Christian film productions starring Harry Connick Jr., Willie Nelson and Nicholas Cage.
The charge filed with a Manhattan federal court accused James David Williams, Steven Brown and Gerald Seppala of conspiring to fraudulently solicit investments in movies from 2012 to 2016 with promises of returns and profits.
In the indictment, the three are accused of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy while Williams and Brown are also charged with laundering the proceeds of the fraud.
"With lies about making feature-length films and documentaries, the defendants allegedly defrauded victims into investing over $12 million with them. Rather than making movies, the defendants perpetrated an advance fee scheme, allegedly using the investors' money to pay themselves and pay other investors back," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
According to the indictment, Williams and Brown presented themselves as experts in marketing films and documentaries. Along with Seppala, they solicited investments in the films from investors.
They sent their victims falsified financial records that included investments that were never made.
In one instance, to get $500,000 from an investor, Williams said he invested $3 million of his own money while Brown said he put $500,000. They told the victim that his investment would be guaranteed by a company called "Woodlawn Holdings."
Instead, the $12 million that was solicited was used to pay back other investments or for personal expenses, Reuters reported.
Williams is accused of using the money to buy a home in Calabasas, California, a new car, clothing stores, club memberships and payment for his children's school tuition.
One former investor, Bill Busbice of Wyoming, filed a lawsuit against the three in 2014 in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit said the three men swindled him out of $10.9 million to get investments in four films including "Angels Sing," a 2013 Christmas family drama starring Connick and Nelson, and "Left Behind," a 2014 Christian apocalyptic thriller starring Cage.
