Canadian pleads guilty to fraud counts in Virginia
US: Canadian pleads guilty in Virginia to wire, bank fraud for investment, donation scheme
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say a Toronto man has pleaded guilty to wire and bank fraud stemming from an investment and donation scheme.
Brian Ray Dinning entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.
The government had said Dinning recruited investors for corporations he established, such as a luxury housing development in South Africa. He also used non-profit corporations to obtain donations for community projects for tribal people in South Africa and to develop wildlife habitats for native African species.
Instead of investing the more than $2.5 million he obtained, prosecutors say he used it for personal and family use.
The former Suffolk tax attorney faces up to 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge and 20 years on the wire fraud charge at his October sentencing.
