Former tech exec faces prison for fraud

TAMPA — Timothy Roberts, who once ran a fast-growing Ybor City-based cloud-computing company lauded by Tampa area officials and business leaders, faces federal prison time after admitting to an investment scam connected to the company.

Roberts, 46, now of Missouri, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa. He faces up to 20 years in prison, the release adds.

Roberts founded and ran Savtira Corp. Inc. In a 2011 Business Observer story Roberts said Savtira, after eight years in development, was going to position itself as a “disruptive” player in the business-to-business marketplace.