A Rhode Island man was sentenced to eight years in prison for running a decade-long Ponzi scheme to defraud investors and evade his taxes, officials stated this week.
Court documents and statements indicate that between 2008 and 2018, Thomas Huling, formerly of West Warwick, orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors by promoting several investment projects.
This included high-yielding bond trading platforms, a car emissions reduction technology, and an online advertising and marketing company.
He solicited funds for these investments by representing, among other things, that the investments would achieve quick and substantial returns with little or no risk.
Contrary to promises, Huling diverted investor money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included high-end vehicles, membership, and golf fees at multiple country clubs, gambling, clothing, restaurants, vacations, travel, and improvements to his residence.
Huling created and used multiple shell companies, opened over 50 bank accounts, and engaged in convoluted financial transactions between accounts to conceal his personal use of the funds.
When concerned investors contacted Huling about the status of their investments, Huling lulled them with false excuses and promises and sometimes avoided their calls.
Huling used money from new investors to appease certain early investors and pay them off.
While defrauding his investors, Huling also evaded his taxes.
Between 2009 and April 2018, Huling reported no taxable income, paid no income taxes, and, for certain years, filed fraudulent individual and corporate income tax returns.
Huling used nominee bank accounts to hide his income and paid for personal expenses using cash and corporate debit cards.
He also falsified the books and records of his companies by recording sham loans, titled personal assets in the name of shell companies and made false statements to IRS special agents.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy for the District of Rhode Island ordered Huling to pay restitution to the United States and victims of the fraud in an amount to be determined later.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case.
Acting Section Chief John Kane of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Hebert for the District of Rhode Island prosecuted the case.