Federal sentencing set in fraud scheme

FAYETTEVILLE — Four men, including one from Fayetteville, have new sentencing dates in federal court for running an $18 million fraud and money laundering scheme.

John Nock of Fayetteville, along with Brian Brittsan, of San Marcos, Calif.; Kevin Griffith, of Orem, Utah; and Alexander Ituma, of Lehi, Utah; were all found guilty on all counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in an investment fraud scheme from 2013 through 2021 through their firm, the Brittingham Group. The men falsely promised large returns they couldn’t and didn’t produce, according to federal prosecutors.

Nock was also found guilty of money laundering.

The sentencing was initially set for early January but was delayed. Nock and Brittsan are scheduled to be sentenced March 14 by U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks. Griffith and Ituma are scheduled to be sentenced March 15.

The four men were accused of soliciting large sums of money by offering investments with exorbitant rates of return and promising the money would be protected, when in reality there were no legitimate investments, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said the men solicited investments through the Brittingham Group, by promising “structured” financial transactions involving standby letters of credit, bank guarantees and other financial instruments they offered to monetize.

Prosecutors said the men guaranteed the safety of the victims’ principal payments. Money was transferred through a complex web of bank accounts throughout the world, according to prosecutors.

The men were convicted Aug. 31.