19-Year Old Nightclub Owner Arrested For $500,000 Ponzi Scheme

Ian Bick / FacebookA Connecticut teenager has been arrested on numerous criminal charges that he operated a Ponzi scheme that duped friends and family - including his parents - out of $500,000.  Ian Bick, 19, was charged with eleven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false statement to law enforcement.  Wire fraud carries a maximum prison term of twenty years per count, while money laundering and making false statements to law enforcement carry maximum sentences of 10 years and 5 years, respectively.  Bick was released on $250,000 bond, with one of the conditions of his bond prohibiting him from using social media.

Bick is the owner of a popular Danbury, Connecticut club known as Tuxedo Junction.  In addition, Bick also owned multiple entities such as This is Where It's At Entertainment, Planet Youth Entertainment, W&B Wholesale and W&B Investments. According to authorities, Bick used these entities to solicit friends, business partners, and even his parents with the promise that their investments would be used for multiple purposes to yield lucrative returns in short time periods.  For example, potential investors were told that their funds would be used to buy electronics and subsequently resell them for a profit, as well as for the organization and promotion of concerts in Connecticut and Rhode Island.  These investments were memorialized through "loan agreements" and "music venture participation agreements."  In total, approximately $500,000 was raised from at least 15 investors.

However, according to authorities, Bick did not use the funds raised from investors to purchase electronics or organize concerts.  Rather, Bick is accused of diverting investor funds for his own personal use, including luxury travel, the purchase of jet skis, and the payments of fictitious interest to investors.  At an interview with U.S. Postal Inspection Service in June 2014, Bick represented to investigators that 70% - 80% of investor funds had been used on "artist deposits."  However, in reality, only a minimal portion of investor funds were allegedly used as promised.

At 19 years old, Bick is likely one of the youngest known defendants accused of a Ponzi scheme.  Donald French, a Florida man, was 25 when he was arrested in 2012 and charged with operating a $10 million Ponzi scheme.  French is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.