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Brant Frost IV Charged With Wire Fraud in Alleged $140 Million Ponzi Scheme

Prosecutors expect a guilty plea in early May.

Overview

  • Frost, 68, was charged and arraigned Thursday on a single federal wire fraud count tied to First Liberty Building & Loan.
  • He pleaded not guilty after waiving indictment and was released on bail, and the U.S. attorney said he is likely to plead guilty in early May.
  • Prosecutors say he ran a Ponzi scheme that raised at least $140 million from about 300 investors by using new money to pay earlier investors.
  • Charging documents say he diverted more than $5 million for personal and political spending, including $2 million in credit card bills, $230,000 for a Maine rental, $570,000 in donations, and luxury jewelry.
  • Parallel recovery efforts continue, with a court receiver reporting $5.16 million in cash as of March 23 and Georgia regulators announcing $6.7 million from Bankers Life affiliates to repay 46 investors.