Roderick J. Rieman Rod Rieman, Roderick James Rieman, Brian Rieman, Brian Rieman Dressander BHC, Dressander BHC, Michael Crook, Michael J Crook, Mike Crook, Rieman, Crook, Z Touch Systems, Z Touch, Global Payment Solutions, GPS, Bluko Information Group, Bluko, Smart Restau Financial scams, sellers of Ponzi type schemes St. Charles, Napperville Illinois
A St. Charles man, Roderick J Rieman, and his out-of-state business partner, Michael Crook, received federal prison sentences of more than three years each for defrauding 125 investors out of roughly $6.6 million.
Roderick Rieman, 69, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud. Prosecutors said Rieman and his partner, 55-year-old Michael Crook, of Los Angeles, lied to investors and misappropriated funds to make "Ponzi-type" payments to some investors. Crook, who cooperated with federal authorities, received a 3½-year sentence.
Prosecutors said Rieman operated an insurance and investment business in Naperville and St. Charles called Innovative Financial Services Inc. that offered investment opportunities in Crook's Las Vegas-based business ventures, which included interactive kiosks, prepaid debit cards and restaurant reservation software.
Between 2004 and 2007, the two men misrepresented returns on investments and risks associated with the investments, prosecutors said. For example, the men offered and sold investments in the kiosks and promised returns of 18 percent in monthly payments and repayment of principal in 36 months. Though the pair sold 250 investments in these kiosks, only a small number were ever built and none were successfully placed in operation and no revenues were generated.
Rieman's son, Brian Riemen of Naperville, worked for his dad selling these investment scams along with other Ponzie-type schemes known as Resort Holdings, Yucatan, Ad Toppers, Douglas Network Enterprizes. Brian now works for Dressander BHC of Napervile.
Roderick Rieman was ordered to begin serving his sentence May 27. Crook will report to prison June 24.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Lance
Rancho Cucamonga,California,
United States
Me Too
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, April 20, 2020
Hello, I read your story, it’s sounds very similar to mines as well. Would you be interested in contacting me to discuss your history with this guy, it sounds exactly like the same guy who I dealt with as well, just trying to find out his description of looks, attitude etc.... You could call me if possible 760 705-4633 Hope you contact me, call me mline
Michael
Miami,Florida,
United States
Michael Crook got me too!
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, February 11, 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...