Greenwich Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Investment Fraud Scheme

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEONID POLLAK, also known as “Lenny,” 58, of Greenwich, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses related to an investment fraud scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Pollak owned a Norwalk-based company that organized trade shows and expositions throughout the U.S.  In mid-2013, Pollak induced an acquaintance to invest money in a new business venture that was supposed to organize similar expositions in Ukraine.  Instead of using the money to build the new business, Pollak spent as much as $250,000 on unrelated business and personal expenses, including his home mortgage loan, groceries and clothing, automobiles, and private school tuition.

Pollak pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of illegal monetary transaction, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on June 10, 2019.

Pollak was arrested on September 20, 2018.  He is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service and Greenwich Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher W. Schmeisser and Pilar Gonzalez.