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Federal prosecutors plan to call nearly two dozen victims of a fraudulent silver bar scheme to testify next month at the fraud trial of a former Roseburg man.
Richard James Dompier, who was offering silver bars for sale over the Internet and through direct mail, is charged with 26 counts of mail fraud, interstate transportation of money taken by fraud and money laundering. He was also indicted on three counts of failing to file corporate tax returns from 1999 to 2001.
Authorities say Dompier, the owner of Roseburg-based New Millennium Group, cheated thousands of investors in the United States, Canada and England. He is accused of pocketing more than $2.5 million from the chicanery.
Through an alleged pyramid scheme, investors were told they could earn $16,000 within 14 months with the purchase of 1-ounce bars of silver for $98.
The company began operations in May 1998 out of an office on West Harrison Street in Roseburg. Later, New Millennium Group expanded by opening offices in Lincolnton, N.C., Park Rapids, Minn., and in Great Britain.
A significant portion of the company’s income came from overseas. During three months in 1999 alone, hundreds of Britons invested more than 516,000 British pounds ($1 million U.S.).
Only a few commission checks were ever issued, prosecutors allege. They said those checks were used to fool potential investors into believing the program worked and encourage them to invest with the company.
The victims who have been called to testify reside throughout the United States, including Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland and California. Two Oregon victims called to testify in U.S. District Court in Eugene are from Tillamook and Woodburn.
Two other investors who were duped will be flown in from England to testify. Another man who invested in the silver bar program and later served as a paid promoter for New Millennium in England will come to testify from his home in Sweden, according to a witness list filed with the court by prosecutors.
The trial, in U.S. District Court in Eugene, was scheduled to begin Jan. 16. However, both the prosecution and the defense agreed to a delay to give both sides additional time to prepare for trial. The trial is now scheduled for Feb. 12 and is scheduled to last 10 days.
Chris Cardani, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case, indicated he will also call nine former employees who worked for Dompier. They include New Millennium Group’s former corporate secretary, a shipping manager at offices in Roseburg and North Carolina, a company computer network manager and Dompier’s accountant, according to a witness list filed with the court.
Other government witnesses include Dompier’s in-laws, who worked for him in North Carolina. Don Bailey served as the company’s vice president, while his wife, Frances Bailey, handled customer calls.
Dompier’s attorney, Brian Lessley of Eugene, has declined to provide the court with a list of witnesses prior to trial.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Richard James Dompier, who was offering silver bars for sale over the Internet and through direct mail, is charged with 26 counts of mail fraud, interstate transportation of money taken by fraud and money laundering. He was also indicted on three counts of failing to file corporate tax returns from 1999 to 2001.
Authorities say Dompier, the owner of Roseburg-based New Millennium Group, cheated thousands of investors in the United States, Canada and England. He is accused of pocketing more than $2.5 million from the chicanery.
Through an alleged pyramid scheme, investors were told they could earn $16,000 within 14 months with the purchase of 1-ounce bars of silver for $98.
The company began operations in May 1998 out of an office on West Harrison Street in Roseburg. Later, New Millennium Group expanded by opening offices in Lincolnton, N.C., Park Rapids, Minn., and in Great Britain.
A significant portion of the company’s income came from overseas. During three months in 1999 alone, hundreds of Britons invested more than 516,000 British pounds ($1 million U.S.).
Only a few commission checks were ever issued, prosecutors allege. They said those checks were used to fool potential investors into believing the program worked and encourage them to invest with the company.
The victims who have been called to testify reside throughout the United States, including Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland and California. Two Oregon victims called to testify in U.S. District Court in Eugene are from Tillamook and Woodburn.
Two other investors who were duped will be flown in from England to testify. Another man who invested in the silver bar program and later served as a paid promoter for New Millennium in England will come to testify from his home in Sweden, according to a witness list filed with the court by prosecutors.
The trial, in U.S. District Court in Eugene, was scheduled to begin Jan. 16. However, both the prosecution and the defense agreed to a delay to give both sides additional time to prepare for trial. The trial is now scheduled for Feb. 12 and is scheduled to last 10 days.
Chris Cardani, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case, indicated he will also call nine former employees who worked for Dompier. They include New Millennium Group’s former corporate secretary, a shipping manager at offices in Roseburg and North Carolina, a company computer network manager and Dompier’s accountant, according to a witness list filed with the court.
Other government witnesses include Dompier’s in-laws, who worked for him in North Carolina. Don Bailey served as the company’s vice president, while his wife, Frances Bailey, handled customer calls.
Dompier’s attorney, Brian Lessley of Eugene, has declined to provide the court with a list of witnesses prior to trial.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
