Las Vegas man sent to prison for defrauding South Lake Tahoe investor of $2.9 million

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 5 years and three months in prison for defrauding a Lake Tahoe investor of more than $2.9 million, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced Jed Baron, 55, of Las Vegas, on Friday, May 10 to prison for wire fraud related to the investment scheme, according to a news release.

Baron made a series of false business proposals where he proposed that the victim invest in a venture to sell Irish seafood to restaurants in Las Vegas. Rather than using the victim’s money for the intended purpose, Baron diverted funds to his own personal use and to pay other investors from previous deals, the news release states.

Baron forged a series of invoices and other documents to persuade the victim that the investment was legitimate. Baron also convinced the victim to invest in other false ventures, including investments in motion pictures and luxury automobiles. The victim did not know that Baron had a prior felony conviction for fraud.

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Hemesath prosecuted the case.