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Press Release

Georgia Investment Representative Pleads Guilty To Stealing Over $1.4 Million From Elderly Brentwood Woman

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - May 7, 2019 – Jay Costa Kelter, 49, of Alpharetta, Georgia pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court, to wire fraud and securities fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.

According documents filed with the court, between March 2014 and August 2016, Kelter embezzled over $1.4 million from an elderly client who lives in Brentwood, Tennessee.  As part of his scheme, Kelter convinced the victim to move her investments from a private investment company to a discount brokerage firm. Kelter used his access to the woman’s accounts to periodically sell securities held in those accounts to pay for transfers to his own pass-through company. On one occasion, Kelter impersonated the victim while confirming a trade in her accounts.

Kelter did not divulge ownership of the pass through company when confronted by the victim, but later admitted that he directed the withdrawals from the accounts to his company. Kelter used portions of the stolen funds to purchase luxury cars, custom jewelry, and vacations, and to repay losses owed to other investment clients.

Kelter faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000,000, when he is sentenced on August 28, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Andrew R. Tyler are prosecuting the case.

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Contact

David Boling
Public Information Officer
615-736-5956
david.boling2@usdoj.gov

Updated May 7, 2019

Topics
Elder Justice
Financial Fraud