During the height of his career, Jason Van Eman helped to finance “The Tale,” a film starring Laura Dern that was a hit during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
Investigators said Van Eman, 44, used this achievement to help promote a scheme to defraud movie and theatre producers out of more than $60 million. The actor and indie film producer from Oklahoma didn’t work alone.
Prosecutors said Van Eman, Benjamin Forrest McConley, and Benjamin Rafael spent millions on luxury cars, a watercraft, real estate, jewelry, trips, and movies in which Van Eman was cast.
A jury in Fort Lauderdale found Van Eman, of Weathervane Productions, guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
McConley, of Miami, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 13 years in prison in September.
Rafael, a former Wells Fargo Banker, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in October 2019. He was sentenced in July to 42 months in prison for participating in the fraud and for concealing his criminal history on applications for COVID-19 relief loans.
Van Eman’s sentencing is at 10 a.m. on July 21st, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.
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Investigators said Van Eman, 44, used this achievement to help promote a scheme to defraud movie and theatre producers out of more than $60 million. The actor and indie film producer from Oklahoma didn’t work alone.
Prosecutors said Van Eman, Benjamin Forrest McConley, and Benjamin Rafael spent millions on luxury cars, a watercraft, real estate, jewelry, trips, and movies in which Van Eman was cast.
A jury in Fort Lauderdale found Van Eman, of Weathervane Productions, guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
McConley, of Miami, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 13 years in prison in September.
Rafael, a former Wells Fargo Banker, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in October 2019. He was sentenced in July to 42 months in prison for participating in the fraud and for concealing his criminal history on applications for COVID-19 relief loans.
Van Eman’s sentencing is at 10 a.m. on July 21st, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.
Continue reading...
