Local Ponzi scheme operator sentenced to federal prison

PALM HARBOR —A federal judge in Orlando sentenced Jeremy Anderson, who ran Palm Harbor-based Tri-Med Corp., to nearly 13 years in prison Friday for mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Anderson, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, defrauded over 200 people out of more than $10.3 million in a Ponzi scheme to convince victims to put money into an “investment program” that would purchase medical receivables backed by a letter of protection.

Anderson, founder and principal owner of the Pinellas County company, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison.  

According to U.S. Attorney’s Office, Anderson, 50, and his co-conspirators falsely promised investors that their funds would be held in a trust account controlled by an attorney. Investors were then assured that Tri-Med would transfer the money using a document called an Assignment of Interest Certificate, officials contended. 

Of the $17 million raised from investors, most who were elderly, only $2.7 million was ever deposited in a trust account, according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As for the rest of the money, about $6.5 million went to salespeople and for personal use or business supplies to the operators of Tri-Med. Another $2.3 million was paid to investors “to make them believe that their investments were profitable.”

“In fact, Tri-Med did not purchase enough medical receivables to secure the incoming investments so it fabricated Assignment of Interest Certificates,” according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney Office.

Anderson pled guilty in February. He is the fourth person sentenced for participating in the scheme.