Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Financial Advisor Sentenced to 8 Years for Defrauding Amish Investors

Posted on February 2nd, 2024 at 2:18 PM
Financial Advisor Sentenced to 8 Years for Defrauding Amish Investors

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Earl D. Miller, convicted in 2022 for defrauding Amish and Mennonite investors through his real estate investment firm, "5 Star," has been sentenced to over eight years in prison. Miller, 44, raised more than $4.3 million from approximately 70 investors, the majority being Amish and Mennonite individuals with limited investment experience.

As reported by FinancialAdvisor.com, the scheme involved fraudulent representations about investing in specific real estate projects. Miller diverted investor funds for other purposes, such as paying interest to other investors, undisclosed entities, a spiritual advisor, and a pontoon boat. The sentencing includes 97 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and restitution of $2.3 million.

Despite promising not to charge for managing investors' money and claiming investments in green energy, Miller misappropriated $1 million to settle a debt with a former business partner. The SEC had previously won a judgment against Miller in 2019, ordering him to pay over $5.2 million for defrauding investors. Although unrelated to the criminal conviction, Miller filed for bankruptcy in 2016 for 11 entities linked to 5 Star. In 2018, a Chapter 11 trustee negotiated a repayment agreement of $600,000, of which Miller had paid only $36,000 by April 2021.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I just received this letter from the CFP Board. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

David Y

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1787592120 Law
August 24, 2026
Sophisticated Voice Phishing Attacks Target Major Wall Street Firms

According to ThinkAdvisor, hackers recently launched a series of sophisticated cyberattacks against major Wall Street firms, including prominent hedge funds and private equity companies.

1787342003 Law
August 21, 2026
Rising Market Leverage Raises Concerns About Financial Stability Despite Low Volatility

The leverage that has helped drive the U.S.

1787244289 Law
August 20, 2026
FinCEN Imposes Record $125 Million Penalty on UBS Financial Services

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has imposed a $125 million civil money penalty against UBS Financial Services Inc.