Las Vegas Man Sentenced In Investment Fraud

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 4 -- The U.S. Acting Attorney for the District of Nevada, Steven W. Myhre, issued the following news release:

A Las Vegas man who stole from 42 victims in connection with an investment fraud scheme was sentenced Tuesday to 46 months in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Sean Christopher Sladek, 40, pleaded guilty in May to one count of wire fraud. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered restitution in the amount of $1,422,923 and a forfeiture money judgment of $2,638,143.26.

According to the indictment, Sladek solicited investment funds from persons, including some he met through social media sites, such as online dating platforms Tinder and Bumble. According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Sladek falsely represented himself as a successful securities trader and investor. In May 2013, he caused a victim in California to transfer $100,000 to him. He told the victim that the monies would generate positive returns through trading, securities transactions, and investment in securities. Sladek did not generate positive returns and had no intent to do so. Instead, he used the stolen money for personal expenses to include gambling, dining, and entertainment.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Grimmer.