Three individuals, Marina Brooks, 67; Charles “Chuck” Brooks, 71; and Crystal Brooks, 35, have been indicted for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
The two-count indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on Dec. 14, 2023, in the Eastern District of Texas, charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The defendants, who allegedly engaged in a large-scale investment fraud scheme, made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson.
The indictment outlines that the trio and their co-conspirators fraudulently solicited "investments" for various schemes, including concert series and cryptocurrency-related projects. Using marketing seminars, radio advertisements, and in-person meetings, the defendants purportedly misrepresented these investment opportunities as highly profitable. However, it is alleged that the defendants transferred victim investor funds to other accounts, took commissions and cash withdrawals, and incurred losses of over 95% of the funds, totaling at least $9.5 million from at least 100 victim investors.
If convicted, each defendant faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
It's important to note that a grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
