One of the key players connected to the Medical Capital Holdings fraud may be heading to jail, following a private-placement scam that resulted in almost $1 billion in losses for investors.
On Monday, Joseph J. Lampariello, former president of Medical Capital, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He now faces up to 21 years in federal prison and a $49 million restitution order when he is sentenced on Jan. 14. Lampariello also pleaded guilty to failing to file a federal tax form.
So far, Lampariello is the only Medical Capital executive who has been criminally charged.
As reported May 7 by the Orange County Register, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Waier is not saying whether the investigation is continuing or whether Lampariello is cooperating with the government.
Medical Capital Holdings was charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in July 2009. From 2003 to 2009, the company raised almost $2 billion from investors under the guise it was using the money to buy discounted medical receivables. In reality, Medical Capital operated similar to a Ponzi scheme, with various MedCap entities buying fake receivables, often from older MedCap funds. The scam generated profits on the older funds’ books, along with commissions for MedCap execs, including Lampariello.
When the SEC entered the picture, more than $1 billion had been stolen from thousands of investors across the country.