FBI nabs last suspect in global stock fraud

Canadian man, 63, arrested in Thailand

A Canadian who was the last suspect sought in an international pennystock fraud scheme that swindled investors of more than $140 million was arrested in Thailand Tuesday.

Gregory Curry — one of four Canadians among nine people accused of participating in the alleged crime ring — was arrested in Bangkok and is facing extradition to the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

“The indictment and arrests are the result of one of the largest international penny-stock investigations ever conducted by the Department of Justice and the FBI,” the bureau said, adding that the operation involved the RCMP and authorities in England, Thailand and China.

‘The indictment and arrests are the result of one of the largest international pennystock investigations … ’ U.S. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Authorities say the scheme is one of the largest penny-stock frauds in history, saying it victimized tens of thousands of people in the United States, Canada and 33 other countries.

The FBI alleges 63-year-old Curry aided the fraud ring’s Canadian leader in securities fraud and advance-fee schemes.

Sandy Winick, the alleged mastermind of the fraud scheme, was arrested Saturday in Thailand.

Canadians Gregory Ellis, 46, and Kolt Curry, 38, were taken into custody Aug. 13, along with five Americans accused in the scheme.

It’s alleged the defendants were involved in a massive “pump and dump” operation — buying controlling interests in sketchy startup companies, then artificially inflating their value by promoting them in fictitious emails, social media messages and news releases.

Court papers say the defendants revictimized investors by convincing them to pay advance fees in return for helping them sell their securities or join lawsuits to reclaim losses.

Gregory Curry has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud and two counts of false personation of an officer of the United States.