WINTER PARK, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man has been arrested by the state for running Ponzi schemes in several counties, according to a release.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Benjamin Clawson, 74, of Winter Park, has been investigating for a real estate fraud scheme since October 2023.
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Investigators said Clawson “sought real estate investment through cash and bridge loans and promised a guaranteed return to the victim, but this never happened.”
Rather than putting the funds into legitimate investments, the defendant maintained millions of dollars from the victims for himself, according to FDLE.
In an email to your side 8, Fdle said the victims came from Hillsboro, Pork, Seminole, Lake, Orange and Brevard County.
Clawson was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on August 28th. He faces one of each organized scheme due to fraud and illegal use of unregistered securities.
