Evergreen Reporter

Casey Alexander, 27, of London, England, has been sentenced to three years of probation by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Alexander is also required to pay $202,195.58 in restitution for his role in a fraudulent scheme targeting elderly investors in the United States.

Court documents reveal that Alexander and his associates engaged in a cold-calling operation using aggressive and deceptive tactics to promise large returns on investments in wine and whiskey. Victims were told they could purchase portfolios of fine wines and whiskeys, which would be stored in a bonded warehouse in Europe until sold for profit.

The scheme convinced victims across the country to wire funds or write checks to suspect companies. Victims were subsequently persuaded to continue investing with promises of securing larger returns.

In 2020, a victim’s son reported the scam to the Highland Heights Police Department (HHPD) after his parent was defrauded out of more than $300,000 over an 18-month period. The HHPD found similar complaints from other individuals who had been asked to invest in wine as part of the scheme.

The FBI investigated this case and identified over 150 victims within the United States who collectively invested more than $13 million in the fraudulent wine and whiskey investment scheme. Assistant United States Attorney Brian McDonough prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

This prosecution aligns with the Elder Justice Initiative Program under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA), which aims to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams targeting older adults.

Individuals who suspect fraudulent conduct involving an older adult are encouraged to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or visit IC3.gov to report it.