NORFOLK, Va. – A former Virginia Beach investment advisor was sentenced today to 35 years in prison, following last week’s sentencing of his Williamsburg-based attorney to 10 years in prison, for their roles in a nationwide investment fraud scheme that resulted in over $25 million in losses to more than 300 victims, most of whom were elderly.
“These defendants and their co-conspirators are responsible for orchestrating an extraordinarily serious nationwide scheme to defraud hundreds of investors out of over $25 million,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Driven by their voracious greed, the defendants preyed on the elderly and exploited the trust of vulnerable victims by robbing them of their hard-earned retirement funds and lifelong savings meant for their families. The financial harm that they caused to each victim is heartbreaking, and the emotional harm they inflicted is incalculable. The sentences imposed in this case reflect the enormous scale and scope of this securities fraud scheme and send a strong message that those who commit these devastating financial crimes will face significant consequences in our courts.”
According to court documents, Daryl Bank, 51, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, ran an investment fraud scheme from approximately January 2012 through July 2017, based in the Tidewater area and Port St. Lucie, and operating across the country. Bank and his co-conspirators—including his attorney, Billy Seabolt, 56, of Williamsburg; corporate executive Raeann Gibson, 49, of Florida; and salesman Roger Hudspeth, 52, of Chesapeake—deceived hundreds of unsuspecting investors, most of whom were at or near retirement age, by fraudulently convincing them to invest in companies owned and controlled by Bank. At Bank’s direction, co-conspirators stole significant portions of investment contributions to fund their criminal enterprise and Bank’s lavish lifestyle.
“Darryl Bank and Billy Seabolt, along with their co-conspirators, robbed hundreds of elderly victims of their life savings and ruined the financial security many had worked for all their lives. Their actions caused needless hardships and were taken with cruel indifference to the long-lasting impact on their victims,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “Because of the devastating impact elder fraud schemes have on victims, the FBI is committed to stopping criminals who prey on the elderly. If you or a family member has been victimized, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov.”
“Bank, Seabolt, and others caused significant financial ruin to hundreds of innocent people by tricking the victims into entrusting them with their retirement funds, under the guise of a promising investment opportunity,” said Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington DC Field Office. “While it cannot erase the hardships which these victims endured due to this scheme, we hope today’s sentencing brings some closure to this horrific time in their lives.”
“Those who engage in deceptive securities practices needs to know they will not go undetected and will be held accountable,” said Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors have been investigating financial crimes like the ones alleged here for many years. Our duty is to protect investors from those who misuse the U.S. Mail and protect the integrity of our mail system.”
In 2010, Bank, then a registered securities broker, was barred from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Undeterred, Bank created an investment company called Dominion Private Client Group (Dominion) and continued to sell unregistered securities on his own and through insurance salesmen across the country. Seabolt, whose legal practice was otherwise focused on elder and trust law, served as Dominion’s legal counsel and was involved in negotiating and developing many of the fraudulent investments and corporations.
The conspirators made material misrepresentations and omissions to sell illiquid, highly speculative investment vehicles. Based on these fraudulent representations, unsuspecting investors cashed out of 401(k) and other retirement accounts to invest in Bank’s investments, without knowing that Bank immediately transferred 20%–70% of the investors’ funds to other companies that he controlled in the form of purported “fees,” much of which he ultimately spent on luxury and designer goods. As a result of this investment fraud scheme, the victims suffered losses in excess of $25 million.
Bank, who was convicted on all 27 counts submitted to the jury, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, selling unregistered securities, securities fraud, and money laundering. Seabolt was sentenced on September 15 to 10 years in prison on multiple conspiracy, mail fraud, and sale of unregistered securities charges.
Gibson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February 2020. Hudspeth pleaded guilty to investment advisor fraud and money laundering, and was sentenced to over 12 years in prison in May 2018.
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Darrell J. Waldon, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-CI; and Daniel A. Adame, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia extends its appreciation to the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Division of Securities for its valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa E. O’Boyle, Elizabeth M. Yusi, and Andrew Bosse prosecuted the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-126.
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