California Con Artist SCAMS $18 Million from Victims Through FAKE Cannabis Business

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Mark Roy Anderson, a convicted con artist, managed to amass $18,376,150 through fraudulent means, primarily by enticing investors with promises of lucrative cannabis businesses that turned out to be entirely fictional. According to prosecutors, Anderson splurged his ill-gotten gains on extravagant purchases, including 15 luxury cars such as a Ferrari, and invested in real estate in Ojai, California.

Despite being under the supervision of the Bureau of Prisons, Anderson devised a scheme to deceive investors and farmers into pouring millions into what he claimed to be a profitable pot farm in Southern California. However, investigations revealed that the supposed Kern County farm existed only on a website showcasing fake harvests obtained from internet stock images.

Anderson, 69, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, acknowledging his involvement in two cannabis-related scams. This latest conviction adds to his extensive history of defrauding victims through investment scams spanning over three decades. His criminal career, marked by numerous federal and state convictions, includes schemes such as misappropriating funds to restore historic buildings, purchasing properties he didn't own, and fabricating oil ventures.

Special Agent Richard T. Higgins stated that Anderson had a tendency to initiate new scams even before the previous ones concluded, highlighting his relentless pursuit of fraudulent activities. Notably, Anderson wasted no time launching the cannabis scam immediately after his release from federal prison.

Operating under various aliases and falsely portraying himself as a successful farmer, Anderson duped investors with claims of significant returns from hemp crops and related products. He established fictitious businesses and solicited farmers for hemp without intending to pay them. Ultimately, investors and farmers grew suspicious as promised returns failed to materialize.

The investigation, initiated by the FBI, uncovered the extent of Anderson's deception, leading to his sentencing scheduled for August 23. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud. #solvedcases #truecrimedocumentary #truecrime