Blackhawk Resident Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Investment Fraud Scheme

OAKLAND, CA—Peter C. Son, 38, of Danville, Calif., was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello said. Son was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined.

According to court documents, Son and his business partner Jin Chung were the owners of SNC Asset Management, Inc. and SNC Investments, Inc. (Companies), which were incorporated in 2003. The Companies shared office space in Pleasanton, Calif., and on Wall Street in New York City. Son served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chung served as the Chief Financial Officer.

Son was initially charged on July 27, 2009 with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions with the proceeds of wire fraud. On April 9, 2010, Son pleaded guilty to both counts. In pleading guilty, Son admitted he falsely advertised that the Companies had a distinguished record and were highly successful in foreign exchange trading, when in fact records reflect that very little foreign exchange trading was done by either company. Son also admitted that potential investors were falsely promised annual returns on their investments of between 24 and 36 percent a year. From the beginning, investors were strongly encouraged to reinvest their profits to avoid having to return funds to the customers. Returns were paid out to only those investors who demanded that the accounts be closed or those who demanded monthly returns be paid instead of reinvested.

Court records reflect that from 2003 through October 2008, approximately 500 customers invested approximately $85 million in the Companies, receiving in return approximately $23 million, leaving investors with losses amounting to approximately $62 million. Most of the investors were Koreans living in California and Korea.

According to information in court records, customers’ investments were deposited into a SNC Bank of America business account from which Son paid his own personal expenses, including mortgage payments of $ 9,000 on his home in Blackhawk, Calif., monthly payments for Blackhawk association dues, various amounts for Blackhawk Country Club dues, and a $3,000 payment to his wife despite the fact that she was not employed by the Companies.

According to court records, over the last year of business, Son aggressively solicited customers to invest additional funds, giving no notice of the intent to close the business and no warning that the funds would not be returned to the customers. Between October 2007 and October 2008, customers deposited approximately $22 million into the SNC bank account. Between August 25, 2008 and September 22, 2008, Son transferred $1,590,000 from the SNC bank account to his personal Bank of America account.

In October 2008, without any advance warning to employees or customers, Son and Chung failed to report to work. According to court records, Chung remained in Korea, where he had gone on a business trip, and Son failed to report to SNC Pleasanton, Calif. office. Son remained a fugitive until June 8, 2009, when he self surrendered.

Stephen Corrigan is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Legal Tech Kathleen Turner. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge D. Lowell Jensen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Security and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the National Futures Association.