‘This case exemplifies the reach of our Statewide Prosecutors, who partner with state, local, and federal law enforcement to bring criminals back to Florida.’
A man accused of running a complex investment fraud in Florida has been arrested in Hawaii on related charges.
Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a news release that 57-year-old Steven Harry Minard from Orlando faces charges of scheme to defraud and selling an unregistered security. Uthmeier said Minard is accused of cheating a well-known investor out of $1 million.
Investigators from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR), Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York El Dorado Task Force found that Minard was promoting a fake development project called “Orlando World Live.” He claimed the project would be a downtown Orlando entertainment and urban renewal effort that could bring in up to $1.6 billion in revenue.
“However, a forensic financial analysis and interviews with over a dozen witnesses revealed that no such project existed. No permit applications or contracts were ever filed with the city of Orlando, and the funds provided by the victim were allegedly diverted to pay off Minard’s unrelated business debts and personal expenses,” the news release said.
After learning he was being investigated for fraud, Minard fled to Honolulu, Hawaii. Uthmeier said his Office of Statewide Prosecution helped alert law enforcement in Hawaii, who caught Minard at the airport as he tried to fly to Houston, Texas.
“This case exemplifies the reach of our Statewide Prosecutors, who partner with state, local, and federal law enforcement to bring criminals back to Florida to face justice,” Uthmeier said.
Florida OFR Commissioner Russell C. Weigel III said the case proves that working together across agencies leads to arrests.
“Together with our partners, we will continue to combat investment fraud and protect Floridians from scammers and bad actors,” Weigel said.
Minard is currently in jail in Honolulu and is expected to be sent back to Florida. Robert Finkbeiner will prosecute the case in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Central Florida.