The Anderson County fraud conviction was announced by prosecutors in a press release after the hearing.
French pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and cyberstalking charges.
The $13M investment fraud deceived investors across multiple states and foreign countries.
The global investor impact was acknowledged in the sentencing remarks of the federal judge.
French operated the Ponzi scheme by promising false returns that never existed.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing shows how financial crime can spread across borders undetected for years.
According to prosecutors, French diverted investor funds to buy luxury cars, property, and personal goods.
The Department of Justice published official details on justice.gov regarding the Ponzi scheme sentencing.
The FBI confirmed French’s case involved cyberstalking two TikTok creators in addition to the $13M investment fraud.
Authorities explained the Anderson County fraud lasted more than five years before intervention.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing includes an order for French to pay over $14 million in restitution.
Victims of the $13M investment fraud testified about lost retirement savings and damaged businesses.
The court proceedings highlighted the scale of the global investor impact from French’s actions.
The Anderson County fraud left individuals in financial ruin across the United States and overseas.
Ponzi scheme sentencing underscores severity of white-collar crime
The judge declared that French’s deception required a lengthy sentence to deter future financial crimes.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing is among the longest for a South Carolina fraud case in recent history.
Federal officials confirmed French misled hundreds of investors with fabricated financial reports.
The Department of Justice urged vigilance against financial schemes that resemble this Anderson County fraud case.
French’s guilty plea spared victims from a prolonged trial but confirmed his full responsibility.
According to court filings, he maintained a lifestyle funded by investor money while lying about returns.
The FBI released further information at fbi.gov for public awareness of investment fraud tactics.
Prosecutors explained that victims ranged from retirees to small businesses seeking growth opportunities.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing reaffirmed global investor impact as many victims were located outside South Carolina.
Timeline of Anderson County fraud scheme
French launched his fraudulent operation in Anderson County several years ago.
The $13M investment fraud grew rapidly as he recruited new victims to sustain payouts.
Wire transfers and false statements concealed losses from those already defrauded.
Federal investigators began tracking French after multiple complaints reached regulators.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing followed years of evidence gathering by FBI field offices.
French admitted to cyberstalking two TikTok influencers who publicly criticized his scheme.
The court noted this harassment added to the seriousness of the case.
Prosecutors argued the cyberstalking element showed a willingness to intimidate critics.
The Anderson County fraud sentencing combined financial penalties with criminal charges for harassment.
French’s case sets a precedent for addressing fraud tied with digital intimidation.
Global investor impact from $13M investment fraud
Victims included individuals in the United States, Europe, and other regions.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing reflects losses that exceeded $13 million across jurisdictions.
Several victims described being forced to delay retirement or liquidate assets.
Others testified they closed businesses after losing capital in the Anderson County fraud scheme.
The global investor impact was considered in calculating restitution and sentencing terms.
The FBI highlighted that Ponzi schemes often exploit social trust and community connections.
French used personal credibility in Anderson County to attract new investors.
Authorities stressed the importance of verifying investments through regulated institutions.
The Ponzi scheme sentencing is expected to deter similar operations across state and national borders.
French will serve his sentence in federal custody followed by supervised release.
