Accountant Charged in Alleged Ponzi Scheme
From Staff and Wire Reports
An accountant was accused Friday of creating phony personal and corporate tax records for a now-defunct Irvine firm that bilked investors, including several celebrities, out of an estimated $45 million.
Stephen A. Ceparano, 62, of Northport, N.Y., was charged by federal prosecutors with conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.
The fabricated records were used by DFJ Italia Ltd., to lure investors, including Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, into what authorities described as a Ponzi scheme.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
