New York (HedgeCo.Net) – A prestigious New York City lawyer has been arrested and charged with masterminding a $100 million real-estate scheme that targeted large institutional investors and hedge funds.
Marc Dreier, of Dreier LLP on Park Avenue, was arrested on Sunday at LaGuardia Airport and is now facing both federal charges of securities and wire fraud, along with civil fraud charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, Dreier was already dealing with criminal impersonation charges brought on by Canadian authorities.
"Our complaint alleges a stunning, brazen fraud that targeted some very sophisticated institutional investors," said Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.
Among the allegations, Dreier allegedly marketed bogus promissory notes that included ones tied to a real estate development company based in New York. Prosecutors said Dreier then covered it up by producing phony documentation and false financial statements to keep the investors from discovering the scheme.
According to the prosecution, Dreier convinced hedge funds to purchase these notes by highlighting the discount they would receive due to the original investors facing a cash crunch brought on by the current economic turmoil. Though the hedge funds weren’t specified, prosecutors say that one New York fund wired $100 million to one of Dreier’s accounts, while another fund in Connecticut wired about $13.5 million.
"This is a very complicated matter, and the facts are beyond reach of a sound bite," Dreier’s lawyer, Gerald Shargel told reporters at the scene.
Marc Dreier is a 58-year-old graduate of Harvard Law School. His bail hearing is scheduled for this Thursday.
Julie Scuderi
Senior Editor for HedgeCo.Net
Email: julie@hedgeco.net
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