4 charged in Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say took $6 million from Haitian-Americans in Fla.

4 charged in Ponzi scheme targeting Haitians

MIAMI — U.S. authorities have charged four people with running a Ponzi scheme that bilked 600 Haitian-American investors out of $6 million.

Federal prosecutors alleged the scheme involved two businesses known as Focus Development Center Inc. and Focus Financial Group Inc. They said sales pitches were made in churches and on Haitian radio stations.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami, the four people sold investors 12-month notes and guaranteed returns of more than 15 percent.

They claimed the money raised would be used to create jobs and businesses for Haitian-Americans. Instead, authorities say they used money from new investors to pay off previous investors and for personal use.

Each faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $16 million.