RESIDENTS OF THE NETHERLANDS INDICTED ON WIRE FRAUD CHARGES
Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on October 20, 2010, PIETER ROOR, also known as PEDRO DISPENZA, 58, and HEINTINA ROOR-POTMAN, also known as HELEEN ROOR-POTMAN, 48, both of The Netherlands, were indicted in a three count indictment charging them with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, two counts of Wire Fraud, and Criminal Forfeiture. The violations the violations are alleged to have taken place between 1998 and September, 2010 in the Southern District of Illinois and elsewhere.
The indictment alleges that PIETER ROOR and HEINTINA ROOR-POTMAN caused wire transfers of money to be made from the Southern District of Illinois and elsewhere, which victims believed was being invested in a variety of on-line investment programs such as Oxford Savings Club, AceInvest, MiAmigo Services, AceXchange, We Let Your Money Grow, Dollar Dazzler, Petheldia, X-Wire, and the Happy Society. If you believe you have been a victim of these on-line investment scams, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office at 618-628-3700.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge and is entitled to a fair trial at which the Government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, PIETERROOR and HEINTINA ROOR-POTMAN face not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both; and not more than 3 years supervised releasefor each of the three counts. The criminal forfeiture count seeks forfeiture in the amount of $3,200,000.00.
Information for the indictment was obtained in an investigation conducted by United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Hudson for prosecution.
