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Sklarov Arrested in Chicago on SDNY Fraud Charges Tied to $450 Million Salinas Pliego Scheme

Prosecutors say he used a fake Astor‑branded lender to seize Elektra shares pledged for a loan, diverting more than $450 million.

Overview

  • Sklarov, arrested Saturday in Chicago, remains in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center as a judge considers his transfer to New York.
  • A newly unsealed SDNY indictment charges him with wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, offenses that carry potential sentences of up to about 20 years.
  • Prosecutors say he promised a roughly $115 million loan and obtained Elektra shares worth about $450 million as collateral, then sold the shares without permission.
  • Court filings describe aliases such as “Gregory Mitchell” and “Mark Simon Bentley” and a fictitious Astor‑linked firm that claimed ties to wealthy U.S. families to win trust.
  • The alleged liquidation was discovered in July 2024 and roiled Elektra’s stock, which saw trading halted, removal from Mexico’s main index and steps toward delisting, while civil suits and asset‑recovery efforts continue in other courts.