4 Plead Innocent in ‘Boiler Room’ Fraud
Four Southern California men pleaded innocent Monday in Los Angeles federal court to charges that they operated an illicit “boiler room” scheme that reportedly bilked hundreds of victims out of diamonds, stocks, bonds and cash.
The four, Steve Angelica, 35, of Los Angeles; Stephan Small, 27, Sherman Oaks; Robert McCallum, 41, Agoura, and Leslie Small, 23, Los Angeles, entered the pleas before U.S. District Judge Pamela Ann Rymer, who set an April 29 trial date. Two others charged in the case, Bruce Kaufman, 31, and Jerry Owens, both of Los Angeles, are fugitives.
Federal authorities estimated that at least eight victims lost “at least $300,000” to the Beverly Hills-based scheme.
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