Danville Business Owner Indicted For Wire Fraud And Identity Theft

LEXINGTON, KY - The owner of a children’s fun and gaming center in Danville, KY., is accused of committing wire fraud and identity theft.

A federal grand jury in Lexington returned an indictment charging 49-year-old Paul Christopher Turner with seven counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, in July 2010, Turner, the owner and operator of Go Go Gorillas gaming center, attempted to obtain a loan to purchase equipment for his company. In seeking the loan, it is alleged that Turner falsely represented to the lending entity that one of his investors was willing to personally guarantee the loan. Turner allegedly offered the investor’s property as collateral for the loan without her knowledge.

The indictment further alleges that Turner forged the investor’s signature on loan and mortgage documents. Turner is also alleged to have forged the signature of a notary public on the documents.

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, United States Postal Inspection Service, Kentucky State Police and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Securities, jointly made the announcement.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Kentucky State Police and the Department of Financial Institutions. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor.

Turner is set to appear in court for arraignment on April 16 Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and the Aggravated Identity Theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.