Tom Petters Case

Victim Compensation/Remission

Thomas J. Petters and several co-conspirators were convicted in federal court of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy in connection with their operation of a multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota has recovered some of the proceeds of the fraud through civil and criminal forfeiture proceedings. The forfeited funds are being returned to the victims through a process called "remission," which is authorized by federal law, including Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 9.

* Visit the remission website at http://www.pettersremission.com/
* Mail to Petters Remission Administrator, P.O. Box 2660, Faribault, MN 55021-9660
* Call the toll-free number 1-888-764-7517 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST)
* Email your inquiry to info@pettersremission.com

Victim Remission Notice

IMPORTANT UPDATES:

The United States Department of Justice has approved remission payments for confirmed Petters Petitioners. Distribution payments have been mailed on August 10, 2018, and on August 3, 2020. Checks must be cashed no later than 90 days from the date of mailing.

Because the total value of seized assets is less than the total victim losses, remission payments were calculated pro rata based on the number of eligible petitions and the verified loss associated with each petition.

The proceeds of all assets forfeited to date have been distributed to petitioners whose petition for remission was granted by the Department of Justice. Additional distributions will be made if additional assets are identified and forfeited to the United States. The timing of future distributions, if any, has not been determined.

Preliminary order for forfeiture (3/26/10)

Preliminary order for forfeiture (9/1/10)

Preliminary order for forfeiture (9/9/10)

Preliminary order for forfeiture (9/13/10)

Second preliminary order for forfeiture (10/15/10)

Second preliminary order for forfeiture (1/6/11)

Remissions regulations

Overview of remissions process

8/13/18 Victims Of Tom Petters Ponzi Scheme Receive Initial Distribution Of More Than $16 Million In Forfeited Funds
Details

8/3/20 Victims Of Tom Petters Ponzi Scheme Receive Additional Distribution Of More Than $22 Million In Forfeited Funds
Details

Sentencing

Tom Petters sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for orchestrating a $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme.
April 8, 2010
Details

Click here to read full case summary

8th Circuit Court of Appeals Briefs

Affirmation of Conviction and Sentence

Petters Appellant Brief

Appellees Brief

Reynolds Appellant Brief

PCI/PGW Guilty Pleas

Petters Company, Inc. (PCI) and Petters Group Worldwide (PGW) have also entered guilty pleas in connection with the Tom Petters fraud scheme.

PCI Plea agreement

PGW Plea agreement

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached an agreement with the court-appointed receiver and bankruptcy trustee in the Petters’s fraud case that will streamline efforts to untangle the Petters empire and maximize the money recovered for the victims and the creditors of Petters’s billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. The agreement was approved in both U.S. District and U.S. Bankruptcy court.

Coordination Agreement

Tom Petters Sentencing Documents

The government's sentencing position brief

The defense's sentencing position brief

The defense's response to the government's sentencing position

The government's response to the defense's response

Related cases

Frank Elroy Vennes, Jr. was sentenced to 180 months in prison in connection with fraudulently raising money from individuals and through hedge funds for investment in Petters Company, Inc. (“PCI”). Vennes was a long-time associate of Thomas J. Petters, the Minnseota businessman who was convicted in 2009 of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme. United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Vennes, age 56, of Stuart, Florida, on one count of securities fraud and one count of money laundering.
October 18, 2013
Details

A jury found a hedge fund manager from Mound guilty of fraudulently raising money from individuals and through mutual funds for investment in Petters Company, Inc. (“PCI”). After a four-week trial, the jury convicted James Nathan Fry, age 59, on five counts of securities fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and three counts of making false statements to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
June 12, 2013
Details

A business associate of Thomas J. Petters, the Minnesota businessman convicted in 2009 of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme, pleaded guilty to fraudulently raising money from individuals and through hedge funds for investment in Petters Company, Inc. (“PCI”). Frank Elroy Vennes, Jr., age 55, of Stuart, Florida, was charged on July 11, 2011, in a Second Superseding Indictment. Appearing today before United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle, he specifically pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of money laundering.
February 1, 2013
Details

A superseding indictment was filed against Frank Elroy Vennes, Jr., a business associate of and primary fundraiser for Thomas J. Petters, the Minnesota business man who was convicted in 2009 of orchestrating a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme.
July 19, 2011
Details

An Edina woman pleaded guilty to providing false information to investors and making false statements to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a hedge fund that invested primarily in promissory notes from Petters Company, Inc.
April 8, 2011
Detail s

Information

Plea agreement

Three Florida men were indicted for fraudulently marketing a hedge fund’s investments in Petters Company, Inc.
April 20, 2011
Details

Indictment

Two Florida hedge fund managers plead guilty to fraudulently marketing a hedge fund’s investments in Petters Company, Inc.
April 21, 2011
Details

More federal charges filed against Frank Vennes in Petters' Ponzi scheme; another hedge fund manager also indicted
July 19, 2011
Details

Co-defendants' Sentencings

Deanna Coleman sentenced for her role in the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme.
September 2, 2010
Details

Coleman's sentencing position brief

The government's sentencing position brief for Coleman

Michael Catain Sentenced for His Role in the Petters’ $3.7 Billion Ponzi Scheme.
September 13, 2010
Details

Catain's sentencing position brief

The goverment's sentencing position brief for Catain

Larry Reynolds sentenced for his role in Petters’ $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme.
September 14, 2010
Details

Reynolds's sentencing position brief

The government's sentencing position brief for Reynolds

Robert White Sentenced for Role in Petters’ $3.7 Billion Ponzi Scheme.
September 15, 2010
Details

White's sentencing position brief

The government's sentencing position brief for White

Illinois man sentenced for wire fraud in connection with Petters investments.
September 30, 2010
Details

Bell's sentencing position brief

The government's sentencing position brief for Bell

Illinois accountant sentenced for conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with Petters case.
October 1, 2010
Details

Petters’ accountant sentenced for tax evasion.
October 18, 2010
Details

Wehmhoff's sentencing position brief

The government's sentencing position brief for Wehmhoff

Restitution

Click to read the June 3, 2010, order.

Click here to read the restitution scheduling order (April 8, 2010) .

Click here to read the May 27, 2010 restitution order.

Click here to read the government's memorandum regarding restitution.

Click here to read the government's preliminary proposed restitution order and Exhibit A.

Click here to read the government's final proposed restitution order.

Victim Impact Statement

If you believe you are a victim of the Tom Petters scheme, please print out the victim impact statement, fill it out and return it to the address on the form.

List of victim rights