Buffalo, N.Y., Jun 9, 2009 / 09:53 am
A New York businessman pleaded guilty Monday to mail fraud and tax evasion in a scam that conned millions of dollars from primarily Catholic investors.
With about 150 of his victims present to watch him, 82-year-old Richard Piccoli admitted to running a Ponzi scheme aimed at Catholics for nearly two decades.
Piccoli, owner of Gen-See Capital Corp, declined to comment after his appearance in the U.S. District Court in Buffalo. Piccoli had been advertising for his company primarily in Catholic publications, targeting clergy and Church entities, and offering priests as references.
Piccoli admitted Monday to promising unusually high guaranteed returns on real estate investments he knew didn't exist. He then paid early investors by collecting new investment money from more victims.
When he was arrested in January, authorities said Piccoli had stolen at least $17 million from over 250 investors.