Earl D. Miller, 44, of Goshen, Ind., was sentenced Nov. 30 to eight years in federal prison for an investment fraud scheme that targeted Amish and Mennonites.
Miller was also ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution after being found guilty on May 13, 2022, of five counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud. The same jury acquitted him of one count of wire fraud and one count of bankruptcy fraud.
About 80% of Miller’s victims were Amish or Mennonite, according to the Department of Justice.
Miller owned 5 Star Capital, a real estate investment firm that recruited predominantely novice investors to support energy-saving products. He raised at least $4.3 million from at least 70 investors in 2014-15 while making at least that much in payments to entities not disclosed to investors.
He filed for bankruptcy in 2016 on behalf of 11 related business entities and negotiated an agreement to pay back $600,000. Miller had paid about $36,000 as of 2021.
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