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Man Who Posed as Saudi Prince and Defrauded Investors Out of $8 Million Is Sent to Prison Man Who Posed as Saudi Prince and Defrauded Investors Out of $8 Million Is Sent to Prison
(about 5 hours later)
The man who called himself Prince Khalid Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia liked the finer things in life: Rolex watches and Cartier bracelets, a Miami penthouse with a door buzzer labeled Sultan and expensive outfits for his Chihuahua, Foxy, whose life he chronicled on Instagram. The man who called himself Prince Khalid al-Saud of Saudi Arabia liked the finer things in life: Rolex watches and Cartier bracelets, a Miami penthouse with a door buzzer labeled Sultan and expensive outfits for his Chihuahua, Foxy, whose life he chronicled on Instagram.
Sometimes he drove his Ferrari, equipped with diplomatic license plates, to fashionable department stores, where he spent thousands of dollars at a time, prosecutors said. But his charmed life came to a screeching halt in 2017 when he was arrested and charged with using a fake identity to defraud investors.Sometimes he drove his Ferrari, equipped with diplomatic license plates, to fashionable department stores, where he spent thousands of dollars at a time, prosecutors said. But his charmed life came to a screeching halt in 2017 when he was arrested and charged with using a fake identity to defraud investors.
It turns out he was not a Saudi prince at all.It turns out he was not a Saudi prince at all.
On Friday, the man, Anthony Gignac, 48, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for posing as a member of the Saudi royal family and pulling off one scam after another, culminating in a scheme to defraud dozens of investors out of more than $8 million — money that prosecutors said was used “to finance his lavish lifestyle.”On Friday, the man, Anthony Gignac, 48, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for posing as a member of the Saudi royal family and pulling off one scam after another, culminating in a scheme to defraud dozens of investors out of more than $8 million — money that prosecutors said was used “to finance his lavish lifestyle.”
It was not the first time Mr. Gignac, a Colombian orphan adopted by a Michigan family in 1977, used the Al-Saud name to get what he wanted. It was not the first time Mr. Gignac, a Colombian orphan adopted by a Michigan family in 1977, used the al-Saud name to get what he wanted.
He has spent most of his life impersonating Prince Khalid, who in reality is the 79-year-old governor of Mecca, prosecutors said Friday. They said Mr. Gignac had been arrested 11 times for “prince-related schemes.”He has spent most of his life impersonating Prince Khalid, who in reality is the 79-year-old governor of Mecca, prosecutors said Friday. They said Mr. Gignac had been arrested 11 times for “prince-related schemes.”
“Over the course of the last three decades, Anthony Gignac has portrayed himself as a Saudi Prince in order to manipulate, victimize, and scam countless investors from around the world,” Ariana Fajardo Orshan, the United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a statement. “As the leader of a sophisticated, multi-person, international fraud scheme, Gignac used his fake persona — Prince Khalid Bin Al-Saud — to sell false hope.” “Over the course of the last three decades, Anthony Gignac has portrayed himself as a Saudi Prince in order to manipulate, victimize, and scam countless investors from around the world,” Ariana Fajardo Orshan, the United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a statement. “As the leader of a sophisticated, multi-person, international fraud scheme, Gignac used his fake persona — Prince Khalid Bin al-Saud — to sell false hope.”
Mr. Gignac pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and impersonating a diplomat, according to court documents. His lawyer did not respond to a message seeking comment on Friday.Mr. Gignac pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and impersonating a diplomat, according to court documents. His lawyer did not respond to a message seeking comment on Friday.
“The entire blame of this entire operation is on me, and I accept that,” Mr. Gignac told Judge Cecilia Altonaga of United States District Court at his sentencing in Miami on Friday, according to The Miami Herald. But he said “other people” should have been tried alongside him and told the court, “I am not a monster.”“The entire blame of this entire operation is on me, and I accept that,” Mr. Gignac told Judge Cecilia Altonaga of United States District Court at his sentencing in Miami on Friday, according to The Miami Herald. But he said “other people” should have been tried alongside him and told the court, “I am not a monster.”
After Mr. Gignac’s arrest, his business manager, Carl Williamson, committed suicide, according to a Vanity Fair profile last year. Mr. Williamson claimed before his death that he, too, had been duped by Mr. Gignac, the magazine reported.After Mr. Gignac’s arrest, his business manager, Carl Williamson, committed suicide, according to a Vanity Fair profile last year. Mr. Williamson claimed before his death that he, too, had been duped by Mr. Gignac, the magazine reported.
Prosecutors said Mr. Gignac’s long con began after he moved to California in 1987, where he obtained a state ID card in the name of Khalid Al-Saud. The deception has landed him in prison in several states since then, they said. Prosecutors said Mr. Gignac’s long con began after he moved to California in 1987, where he obtained a state ID card in the name of Khalid al-Saud. The deception has landed him in prison in several states since then, they said.
In 1991, The Los Angeles Times called him “Prince of Fraud” after he pleaded no contest to stiffing a limousine company and the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel out of more than $10,000.In 1991, The Los Angeles Times called him “Prince of Fraud” after he pleaded no contest to stiffing a limousine company and the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel out of more than $10,000.
But he continued the scam in Michigan, where he pleaded guilty in 2006 to impersonating a diplomat and attempted bank fraud. Prosecutors said he used his royal persona to charge more than $28,000 in purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus to the account of an actual Saudi royal. He also tried to withdraw $3.9 million from a Citibank account that did not exist.But he continued the scam in Michigan, where he pleaded guilty in 2006 to impersonating a diplomat and attempted bank fraud. Prosecutors said he used his royal persona to charge more than $28,000 in purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus to the account of an actual Saudi royal. He also tried to withdraw $3.9 million from a Citibank account that did not exist.
Mr. Gignac’s lawyer at the time, Karen J. Davis Roberts, wrote in a 2007 sentencing memorandum that his behavior was caused in part by trauma he suffered as a homeless child in Colombia and by the divorce of his adoptive parents. He spent more than a year and a half at mental hospitals and later ran away from home at the age of 17, she wrote.Mr. Gignac’s lawyer at the time, Karen J. Davis Roberts, wrote in a 2007 sentencing memorandum that his behavior was caused in part by trauma he suffered as a homeless child in Colombia and by the divorce of his adoptive parents. He spent more than a year and a half at mental hospitals and later ran away from home at the age of 17, she wrote.
Mr. Gignac claimed at his 2007 sentencing that he began having sex with male members of the Saudi royal family at the age of 17. He subsequently became a kept man but was later cut off, he said. The court was unmoved.Mr. Gignac claimed at his 2007 sentencing that he began having sex with male members of the Saudi royal family at the age of 17. He subsequently became a kept man but was later cut off, he said. The court was unmoved.
“This is one of the most powerful families in the world,” he said, according to a transcript. “They are secretive. There is no information about these people on the internet. They have private ongoings. Who could I, without help, influence? I am so close to them.”“This is one of the most powerful families in the world,” he said, according to a transcript. “They are secretive. There is no information about these people on the internet. They have private ongoings. Who could I, without help, influence? I am so close to them.”
Mr. Gignac spent time in federal prison and completed his supervised release in February 2017. But by that time he was already impersonating Prince Khalid in South Florida, the Justice Department said.Mr. Gignac spent time in federal prison and completed his supervised release in February 2017. But by that time he was already impersonating Prince Khalid in South Florida, the Justice Department said.
He bought fake diplomatic license plates for his cars and fake Diplomatic Security Service badges for his bodyguards, prosecutors said. He handed out business cards that referred to himself as “prince,” “his royal highness” and “sultan.” When he met with investors, he demanded expensive gifts, which he described as royal protocol.He bought fake diplomatic license plates for his cars and fake Diplomatic Security Service badges for his bodyguards, prosecutors said. He handed out business cards that referred to himself as “prince,” “his royal highness” and “sultan.” When he met with investors, he demanded expensive gifts, which he described as royal protocol.
The ruse continued on Instagram, where pictures of his dog were interspersed with photos of luxury goods, expensive meals, piles of cash and images of Saudi royals with captions like “my dad.”The ruse continued on Instagram, where pictures of his dog were interspersed with photos of luxury goods, expensive meals, piles of cash and images of Saudi royals with captions like “my dad.”
Prosecutors said Mr. Gignac used his royal persona to lure investors into nonexistent ventures around the world, including a pharmaceutical company in Ireland and a casino in Malta.Prosecutors said Mr. Gignac used his royal persona to lure investors into nonexistent ventures around the world, including a pharmaceutical company in Ireland and a casino in Malta.
He also dangled the chance to buy a stake in Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, whose potentially record-breaking I.P.O. was suspended last year. Representatives for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington did not answer their phone on Friday.He also dangled the chance to buy a stake in Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, whose potentially record-breaking I.P.O. was suspended last year. Representatives for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington did not answer their phone on Friday.
The scheme began to unravel in March 2017, when Mr. Gignac set out to buy a luxury hotel in Miami, prosecutors said.The scheme began to unravel in March 2017, when Mr. Gignac set out to buy a luxury hotel in Miami, prosecutors said.
He offered the owners $440 million, booked a stay at the hotel using a credit card in Prince Khalid’s name and showed them forged documents from the Bank of Dubai granting him a $600 million loan, prosecutors said.He offered the owners $440 million, booked a stay at the hotel using a credit card in Prince Khalid’s name and showed them forged documents from the Bank of Dubai granting him a $600 million loan, prosecutors said.
But he behaved erratically, they said, and the hotel’s owners hired a private security group to investigate their would-be business partner. The investigators soon learned the truth, and a federal investigation began soon after.But he behaved erratically, they said, and the hotel’s owners hired a private security group to investigate their would-be business partner. The investigators soon learned the truth, and a federal investigation began soon after.