Ludovic Laroche has been sentenced to the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and ordered to make full restitution, after being convicted in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case involving a series of investment scams.
The defendant was convicted in January, following a jury trial in Lee County. State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit Chief J.D. Miller prosecuted the case.
The case originated as a joint investigation between the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and The Office of Financial Regulation.
Laroche was sentenced as follows:
| · | RICO – Use of Proceeds to Acquire Title, Right or Equity in Real Property, First Degree Felony:30 years in prison, maximum sentence |
| · | RICO – Use of Proceeds to Operate Enterprise, First Degree Felony: 30 years in prison, maximum sentence, to run concurrent to the first count |
| · | Fraud Related to Investment or Securities, Third Degree Felony – 11 counts – 5 years on each count, maximum sentence |
| · | Sale or Offer of Unregistered Securities, Third Degree Felony – 11 counts – 5 years on each count, maximum sentence |
| · | Second Degree Grand Theft – 5 counts – 15 years in prison on each count, maximum sentence |
· Third Degree Grand Theft – 27 counts – 5 years in prison on each count, maximum sentence
The investigation began in 2020 when FDLE received a complaint about Laroche making presentations at churches in Southwest Florida, utilizing various schemes to scam people out of their money.
The defendant developed multiple fraudulent storylines to steal money from people. He targeted victims through the presentations in Haitian churches and on Creole radio.
He got victims to give him money to invest in real estate, telling them he bought and flipped houses, and promised an annual return on their investment. In another scheme, he got victims to give him money he claimed was to invest in a taxi service.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director