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NAPLES — Richard Vincent Leli, a former Naples resident serving a sentence in a New York prison for grand larceny, has been extradited from the Empire State to face charges of securities fraud and communications fraud in Florida.
Leli allegedly offered promissory notes and shares in his Naples based company, SW Florida’s Finest Tire and Auto LLC, according to a statement, by convincing victims their money would provide startup capital to lease space and purchase needed machinery. However, he allegedly failed to reveal the business was already in operation and that he spent the money on personal living expenses, according to a statement from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Victim losses are believed to be about $35,000, the release adds.
“Today, scam artists are using new and creative ways to steal your hard-earned money,” CFO Jimmy Patronis says in the release. “Floridians must stay vigilant and learn the signs of fraud so you can prevent it before becoming a victim. I want to thank OFR Commissioner Weigel and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for working to bring this serial fraudster to justice and preventing further financial exploitation of Florida consumers.”
The OFR and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit conducted the investigation.
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