7 Indicted in Fraud Linked to Kidnapping Victim
Seven men accused in an alleged telemarketing scam linked to slain San Fernando Valley man Christopher Rawlings have been indicted on federal fraud charges, authorities said Monday.
The men worked for WRI Holdings Inc., one of several allegedly bogus firms prosecutors said were run by Rawlings and two other men.
The company allegedly defrauded people who thought they were investing in a company planning to release records by Marvin Gaye and the Beatles, according to the indictment made public Monday. In a nine-month period last year, victims invested about $1.1 million, the indictment said.
Charged in the indictment were Peter Aro, John Dickens, Timothy Griffieth, Vincent Rabiola, John Watson, Gerald Whiteford and Michael Wineman.
Aro, 39, who had been indicted in an earlier telemarketing scam, is a fugitive, authorities said.
Los Angeles police are investigating whether Rawlings’ business practices may have been linked to his killing last month, but as yet have found no connection.
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