Rod Rieman and Michael Crook Roderick Rieman, Rod Rieman, Rieman, Crook, Michael Crook, Z Touch Systems, Z Touch, Global Payment Solutions, GPS, Bluko Information Group, Bluko, Smart Restaurant Solutions, Smart Resaturant, Innova RIEMAN & CROOK INDICTED ON 10 CHARGES OF MAIL FRAUD! FACING 200 YEARS JAIL TIME! Geneva, Illinois
Investment Con Artist, Roderick James Rieman was indicted on mail fraud charges in connection with defrauding more than 100 investors of more than $5 million in a Ponzi-type scheme, federal prosecutors say.
Roderick Rieman, 66, of Geneva, and a partner, Michael Crook, 52, of Los Angeles, were indicted April 6, 2011 of 10 counts each of mail fraud by a federal grand jury. If convicted, each count of mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and mandatory restitution.
The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Illinois said the two created four companies between 2004 and 2007, took money for investing in them, overstated and misrepresented their value and return, then used money from new investors to pay older ones, according to the indictment.
Rieman said he was was a director of Z Touch Systems Inc., Global Payment Solutions Inc., Bluko Information Inc., and Smart Restaurant Solutions Inc., all based in Las Vegas.
The companies were supposed to create interactive kiosks, software for making restaurant reservations and pre-paid debit cards. For example, for Z Touch, the interactive kiosk was called ODIEs, On Demand Interactive Environments, according to the indictment.
Rieman misled prospective investors and investors by telling them such things as: Bluko and Z Touch had contracts with the U.S. military and with Habitat for Humanity, according to the indictment. Morgan Stanley was going to take Bluko to the promised land and the U.S. had purchased a large number of ODIEs for use by soldiers.
Filed in the U.S.District Court, Northern Illinois is case # 11CR0269
If you are a victim, contact:
Info on U.S. Atty handling case 11CR0269
Edward G. Kohler
United States Attorney's Office (NDIL)
219 South Dearborn Street
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-5300
Rieman and his son Brian, through his Innovative Financial Services, Inc company, bilked 100s of victims (mostly retired senior citizens) out of their retirement funds and equity in their properties, to buy into 2 Ponzi schemes:
Resort Holdings / Universal Lease in Cancun, Mexico. Amount of Ponzi - $550 Million.
Michael E. Kelly, creator of this Ponzi, has been sitting in a Federal jail for 4 years while awaiting trial. He is trying to sell his properties to make restitution to his 9000 victims.
Ad Toppers, Douglas Network, Unlimited Cash of Los Angeles, CA. Amount of Ponzi - $26 Million
Nancy Carol Khalial, creator of this Ponzi, is out of jail on $50,000 bail waiting for her trial to start. There are approximately 700 victims in this Ponzi.
Many of Rieman's investors were members of the Community Christian Church in Naperville where Rieman attended. Rieman now attends Riverside Community Church, 37W130 Crane Road, St., Charles, Il.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Michael
Miami,Florida,
United States
Michael Crook screwed me too
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, February 18, 2020
Michael Crook got me for a whole lot of money. I responded to ad which I still have, he had posted on Craigslist back in 2018 about a business opportunity. After meeting with him and having conversation with him about what he was looking to do he convinced me to partner up with him. Showing me his limo company and water companies and other business's he was running, he offered me to quit my job and come work with him. I was excited.
Thought to myself what a good thing im getting into. So then it all started. After getting my info, he started to apply for credit cards and loans. Having me go to different banks around the area and opening up accounts and when I would question what we were doing he would always make me feel like I was going to mess up a good oppurtunity to work with him and I didnt want to mess that up espicially after quiting my job.
Loans were coming into my account and he would transfer them out. Always giving me some BS story where the money came from and what we were going to do with the money to expand the business's and so forth. I told him as long as the bills are paid we're ok. Then one day he had me go to Delrey Beach Mercedes Benz and purchase a Mercedes S550 that he said he wanted to add to the fleet for his limo company.
Again I would tell him as long as it can be paid lets do it. Then one day he had me go to At&T and open up a business account and took out 2 iphones and tablets and said it was all for the business. Everything seemed ok. The bills were being paid and even one of the loans was paid off. This only lasted about 4-5 months and then it all stopped.
He stopped making deposits to the bank to make payments and stop paying me. Things were not looking good. Then I find out that the Mercedes was shipped to California which now I being sued for. Then I find out he opened a PayPal account and thats negative $65,000. Grand Total this guy hit my credit up for almost $200,000. My credit went to Sh*t and im being harrassed by creditors everyday and now being sued by one of them which I think is the car loan.
He also tried opening another business in my name in the state of Delawere and also tried opening a frieght company which I received all mail for. This man is the devil him self. I invitied this man into my home and met my family. He is heartless and has no soul. Its like he's some evel robot or someting. I did do some investigating with all the info I have from him and looks like I was able to find his sister and sisters husband and looks to be his mother on Instagram.
I myself have tried reporting this situation to the my local police department and all they tell me to do is file civil sue. Its like know one wants to hear what happened to me but now I see im not the only one. My wife says I should try the state attorneys office now so thats what im going to try to do. Were you able to resolve anything in your case with Michael Crook? He told me his name was Mike Cook...