Case Updates

02/02/2024

Gary Gauthier, of Seminole, was sentenced to 5 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of probation for his role in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded Florida investors out of more than $6 million. The sentencing follows a guilty plea to charges of racketeering, conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, sale of unregistered securities, sale of securities by an unregistered dealer, securities fraud, and organized fraud. Gauthier’s co-conspirator and a former CPA, David Dreslin pled guilty to charges of racketeering, sale of unregistered securities, securities fraud and organized fraud for his role in the scheme. Gauthier and Dreslin were ordered to pay $6,252,469.79 in restitution.

02/01/2024

Phillip Roy Wasserman, of Sarasota, a former lawyer and insurance agent, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud as well as evasion of payment of income taxes. As part of his sentence, the court order him to forfeit $6,318,299.75. The sentencing follows a jury verdict.

01/29/2024

Brian Peter Troiano, of Tampa, was sentenced to 60 months of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $46,000 in connection with an alleged fraudulent investment offering. He was also ordered to serve 50 hours of community service and to not have any contact with victims or invest or trade stocks for others. The sentencing followed a guilty plea to a charge of grand theft.

01/04/2024

David Aubel, aka David Kost, was sentenced to serve 14 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of probation for his role in an investment scheme that defrauded 12 Florida investors out of approximately $2.4 million. Additionally, on October 23, 2023, Aubel’s former business partner, Nelson Garcia entered a plea of no contest to charges of criminal conspiracy and unlicensed telemarketing for his role in the scheme and was sentenced to five years’ probation.