A former Atlanta advisor and radio personality who has been on the lam since September 2020, a day before he was scheduled to turn over documents related to his businesses to the Securities and Exchange Commission, has been indicted for his role in a Ponzi scheme that robbed dozens of investors of millions of dollars, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia.
Christopher Burns, 40, a resident of Berkeley Lake, Ga., also was charged last April by a federal grand jury with 10 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and four counts of money laundering last April. He was previously charged in a criminal complaint on October 23, 2020, with one count of mail fraud.
Burns conducted business through several entities, including Investus Advisers, LLC, Investus Financial, LLC, Dynamic Money, and Peer Connect, LLC. He is alleged to have defrauded investors of at least $10 million, promising them that their money would be loaned to businesses that needed financing and with little or no risk, the release said.
Prosecutors said Burns also lied to investors that he would pool their money to lend it to startup businesses and charities, the release noted. Instead, he used the victims’ money to repay prior investors and to fund his business and his lavish lifestyle.
The investment scheme involving dozens of investors in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina played out between 2017 and September 2020, the SEC said.
Burns allegedly told that he would pool their money to lend it to startup businesses and charities, the release noted. Instead, he used the victims’ money to repay prior investors and to fund his business and his lavish lifestyle, prosecutors said.
Burns was scheduled to relinquish documents related to his businesses to the SEC on September 25, 2020. But the next day he disappeared. Prosecutors said the vehicle he was driving was found abandoned in Dunwoody, Ga., with copies of three cashier’s checks totaling more than $78,000.
He was the host of the radio program, “The Chris Burns Show,” which was broadcast from Atlanta. The program, according to his website, helped investors unpack “how the week’s headlines practically impact your life, wallet and future.” Burns also had appeared on television shows where he presented himself as an experienced and well-informed investment professional.
“Ponzi schemes, such as the one Burns carried out, inflict emotional and financial damage on its victims,” James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, said in a statement.
“Burns obtained then violated the trust of his clients to fund his lavish lifestyle,” added U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He betrayed investors and stole their savings with promises of safe investments that would yield high rates of return. Individuals who brazenly cheat their clients should expect to be held accountable. The authorities are continuing to search for Burns, and anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the FBI.”
In addition to information on Burn’s whereabouts, prosecutors said if you think you were defrauded, contact the FBI-Atlanta field office at 770-216-3000 or go to tips.fbi.gov.