Cape man sentenced to 30 years for investment scam
A Cape Coral man was given the maximum sentence after being convicted in a series of investment scams that bilked at least 20 victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ludovic Laroche, 57, was sentenced last week to 30 years in prison and ordered to make full restitution after being convicted in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations case dating back to 2020.
Laroche was convicted in late January following a jury trial.
According to the State Attorney’s Office 20th Judicial Circuit, Laroche was sentenced as follows:
• RICO – Use of Proceeds to Acquire Title, Right or Equity in Real Property, First Degree Felony: 30 years in prison, maximum sentence
• RICO – Use of Proceeds to Operate Enterprise, First Degree Felony: 30 years in prison, maximum sentence, to run concurrent to the first count
• Fraud Related to Investment or Securities, Third Degree Felony – 11 counts – 5 years on each count, maximum sentence
• Sale or Offer of Unregistered Securities, Third Degree Felony – 11 counts – 5 years on each count, maximum sentence
• Second Degree Grand Theft – 5 counts – 15 years in prison on each count, maximum sentence
• Third Degree Grand Theft – 27 counts – 5 years in prison on each count, maximum sentence
According to the SAO, the investigation into Laroche began in 2020 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a complaint about Laroche making presentations at churches in Southwest Florida, utilizing various schemes to scam people out of their money.
“The defendant developed multiple fraudulent storylines to steal money from people. He targeted victims through the presentations in Haitian churches and on Creole radio,” SAO officials stated in a release.
The release states that Laroche got victims to give him money to invest in real estate by telling them he bought and flipped houses, and promising an annual return on their investment. The SAO said in another scheme, Laroche got victims to give him money he claimed was to invest in a taxi service.
Laroche was first arrested by Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 2022.
State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit Chief J.D. Miller prosecuted the case.