Leesburg Man Sentenced On Fraud, Money Laundering Charges
WARSAW — A Leesburg man was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior 1 Court Thursday, Sept. 28, on charges of fraud, money laundering and theft.
Ronald Thomas Miller, 54, 6806 E. May Lane, Leesburg, was originally charged in February with securities fraud, a class C felony; corrupt business influence, a class C felony; money laundering, a class D felony; and three counts of theft, all class D felonies.
The charges were related to a securities fraud investigation that began in February 2017 by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department involving Miller as the suspect and four victims.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Miller had presented himself to the victims as a licensed stockbroker. The four victims provided Miller with checks totaling thousands of dollars over a period of time, which they believed was being invested by Miller on their behalf.
The investigating officer spoke with Tina McGuire, who advised she had been in a relationship with Miller from 2010 through 2015. According to the affidavit of probable cause, she opened a savings account on Feb. 8, 2011 for Miller at Farmers State Bank. Miller then deposited $150,000 into the account.
McGuire told the officer that she would take $9,000 a week out of the account and place it in a safe deposit box that she opened at First Federal Bank. She would then remove the money from the safe deposit box when Miller wanted it until all the money was gone.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the officer then spoke with Miller, who admitted that he was not a licensed broker. He told the officer he invested the money in a New York First Capital account under his own name. The officer conducted a search to locate New York First Capital and was unable to locate an investment company with that name.
In regards to the securities fraud charge, Judge David Cates sentenced Miller to four years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Cates stated he did not have an issue with the sentence being served through the Kosciusko County Work Release program or through Community Corrections, provided Miller qualifies for one of the programs and remains qualified.
For the money laundering charge, Miller received a sentence of one and a half years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. In regards to the theft charge, Miller was sentenced to one and a half years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Cates ordered the sentences to be served consecutively and ordered that the sentences for counts III and IV be suspended and served on probation. The remaining charges were dismissed.
Miller was also ordered to obtain and maintain employment, pay court fees, pay restitution to the victims and to have no contact with the victims.
“You have an opportunity to work and pay restitution. If not, you can be in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Make the right choice,” Cates said to Miller.