Fraudster Given 22 Years for Ripping Off Charitable Donors

Samuel or Mouli Cohen will serve 22 years after being foundguilty of wire fraud and money laundering. Cohen received a sentencing enhancement for misrepresenting he wasacting on behalf of a charity.

Cohen pretended Microsoft would soon acquire a company heco-founded named Ecast and that he was interested in donating $60 million tocharity.  He offered the Vanguard PublicFoundation shares in his company, promising half of profits would go tocharity. 

In reality, no deal had been made with Microsoft and Ecasthad fired Cohen.  Cohen and Vanguard’sformer president, Hari Dillon, then milked $31 million from individualsassociated from Vanguard.  Dillon wassentenced to 40 months after testifying against Cohen.

See LorraineBailey, Extra-Long Sentence for Cheatingthe Charitable, Courthouse News Service, Aug. 23, 2013.