Fla. man pleads guilty in $8M Facebook shares case

Florida man accused of exploiting excitement over Facebook admits defrauding investors

NEW YORK (AP) -- A Florida investment adviser has pleaded guilty in New York in an $8 million securities fraud scheme that prosecutors say capitalized on enthusiasm for Facebook shares.

Craig L. Berkman entered the plea Tuesday to securities fraud and wire fraud in federal court in Manhattan. The 71-year-old Berkman was a one-time Oregon GOP gubernatorial candidate.

He admits that he falsely claimed to investors in December 2010 that he owned shares of Menlo Park, Calif.-based Facebook Inc.

Prosecutors say he pocketed much of the $8 million he received from more than 50 investors. The government says he transferred the investors' money into his personal account rather than using it to acquire shares of Facebook. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 1.