NEW YORK, NY – James Robinson and David Kennedy, principals of the Spain-based United Property Group, have pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors worldwide through the company Bar Works Inc. and related entities.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the guilty pleas, underscoring the determination of the Southern District of New York to pursue fraudsters globally.
Robinson, 47, entered his plea today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses and is set for sentencing on September 25, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. Kennedy, 48, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2024, also by Judge Kaplan. Both face up to 20 years in prison.
The fraud involved the sale of workspace leases in Bar Works, a private co-working space company, which was part of a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by the notorious Renwick Haddow. Despite Haddow being previously disqualified as a director in the UK and sued for fraudulent activities, he controlled Bar Works under the alias “Jonathan Black,” a fictitious CEO. Robinson and Kennedy were instrumental in recruiting agents and disseminating fraudulent materials to investors, leading to the collection of over $57 million from more than 800 investors before the operation collapsed in June 2017.
