Florida REIT founders charged with stealing from employee benefit plans

The two founders of a Port Richey-based real estate investment trust were indicted on federal theft and embezzlement charges, accused of stealing funds from their employee benefit plans, months after the duo was charged by the SEC in an alleged fraud scheme that raised $152 million from over 5,500 small investors. The 15-count indictment, filed in federal court in Tampa, charges Brandon Dutch Mendenhall and Amy Marie Smith Vaughn with 10 counts of theft or embezzlement from an employee benefit plan and five counts of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. Mark Rankin, the attorney representing Mendendall, said […]

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