Ex-millionaire who had ties to deprave politicians will get 5-plus years in jail for actual property fraud

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A one-time millionaire actual property developer with previous ties to deprave Connecticut politicians was sentenced to greater than 5 years in jail on Monday for fraud involving a failed hotel-condominium venture in Florida and properties elsewhere.

Robert Matthews requested a jail sentence of not more than 27 months, however as a substitute obtained 65 months from Decide Victor Bolden throughout a listening to in federal court docket in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Prosecutors mentioned Matthews, of Palm Seashore Gardens, Florida, and previously of the Connecticut city of Washington, scammed overseas traders out of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from 2012 to 2018 whereas attempting to develop the Palm Home Resort in Palm Seashore. Greater than 60 traders contributed at the very least $500,000 apiece, officers mentioned.

Matthews made enticing however false assertions that celebrities and politicians — together with former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton — can be concerned within the venture, authorities mentioned. Matthews and his co-defendants used traders’ cash to purchase a yacht, open eating places and repay loans, amongst different private bills, prosecutors mentioned.

Throughout Monday’s court docket listening to, Matthews apologized to these he defrauded and admitted he used traders’ cash to take care of his rich life-style, Hearst Connecticut Media reported.

In line with court docket paperwork, Matthews went broke after having overseen multimillion-dollar actual property initiatives, largely due to the 2008 actual property market crash. He had a 12,000-square-foot (1,115-square-meter) mansion in Palm Seashore, a 150-foot (45-meter) yacht and an island trip dwelling in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Matthews pleaded responsible in 2019 to conspiracy to commit financial institution and wire fraud, making unlawful financial transactions and tax evasion. Three co-defendants within the case, together with his ex-wife and brother, even have pleaded responsible and await sentencing.

Prosecutors mentioned the fraud additionally concerned properties in Connecticut and Nantucket.

Regulation enforcement officers beforehand confirmed curiosity in Matthews in reference to two corrupt Connecticut politicians, however Matthews wasn’t charged in both case.

In a 2004 felony case, a defendant who pleaded responsible mentioned he was the entrance man for Matthews when Matthews purchased a Washington, D.C., rental from former Gov. John Rowland for greater than twice the going price. Rowland resigned in 2004 amid a corruption scandal that despatched him to jail.

Within the early Nineties, authorities questioned Matthews a few $25,000 cost to Waterbury Mayor Joseph Santopietro, who additionally was convicted of corruption and served jail time.

In 2000, Matthews and an antiques vendor obtained an authentic copy of the Invoice of Rights that was stolen from North Carolina’s Capitol on the shut of the Civil Battle, presumably by a Union soldier. The doc was returned to North Carolina after the FBI seized it throughout a sting and Matthews misplaced a lawsuit in a bid to maintain it.