MORRIS COUNTY — Morristown resident faces charges for defrauding victims of $3.4 million, says U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Mark Csantaveri, 51, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court and was detained.
Click here to download the complaint.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Csantaveri and his conspirators operated businesses that purported to provide small businesses with debt relief services. Csantaveri induced victims to make regular payments to one of Csantaveri’s businesses by falsely claiming that he would hold their money while negotiating favorable settlements with the victims’ creditors. Instead of using victim funds as promised, Csantaveri and his conspirators misappropriated the victims’ money for their personal use, including over $1 million in gambling expenses. Csantaveri’s scheme ultimately defrauded more than 50 victims of more than $3.4 million.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss involved in the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman of the Criminal Division in Newark.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
