A Lee County man was sentenced to prison for a series of investment scams targeting victims in Haitian churches and Creole radio listeners.
Ludovic Laroche, 57, was convicted in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case in January.
According to the State Attorney's Office, an investigation began in 2020 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was notified that Laroche was making presentations at churches in Southwest Florida.
It was a joint investigation involving FDLE and the Office of Financial Regulation.
Officials said he used various schemes and fabricated storylines to scam people out of their money.
Laroche got victims to give him money to invest in real estate. He told them he bought and flipped houses and promised an annual return on their investment.
The State Attorney's Office said he also got victims to give him money he claimed was to invest in a taxi service.
Laroche was ordered to pay full restitution and was sentenced as follows:
- RICO - Use of proceeds to acquire title, right or equity in real property, first-degree felony: 30 years in prison (maximum sentence)
- RICO - Use of proceeds to operate enterprise, first-degree felony: 30 years in prison (maximum sentence) and will run concurrent to the first count
- Fraud related to investment or securities, third-degree felony: 11 counts, 5 years on each count (maximum sentence)
- Sale or offer of unregistered securities, third-degree felony: 11 counts, 5 years on each count (maximum sentence)
- Second-degree grand theft: 5 counts, 15 years in prison on each count (maximum sentence)
- Third-degree grand theft: 27 counts, 5 years on each count (maximum sentence)
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