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Richard J. Dompier
A former Roseburg man who bilked more than 5,000 victims out of $4 million in a pyramid scheme was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan also ordered Richard J. Dompier, 48, to pay $2.8 million in restitution to his victims.
A federal jury in Eugene convicted Dompier in February of all 29 charges brought against him. He was found guilty of multiple counts of mail fraud, money laundering, transporting stolen funds across state lines and tax evasion.
“We are very satisfied with the sentence given by Judge Hogan,” said Chris Cardani, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case. “The sentence is significant.”
Operating out of an office on West Harrison Street, Dompier promised investors they could earn a return of $16,000 within a year after buying 1-ounce silver bars for $98.
A company operated by Dompier, The New Millennium Group, began pushing the investment opportunity in July 1998 through direct mail advertisements, Internet come-ons and paid promoters in the United States and England.
In reality, the investment program was nothing more than a pyramid scheme in which Dompier paid some early investors with money provided by later investors.
The bogus investment plan generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for The New Millennium Group within a short time. He later opened offices in North Carolina, where he moved, Minnesota and Great Britain.
From July 1998 through October 2000, Dompier sold 75,920 silver bars to investors. Most were from the United States, England and Canada, but there were also victims in Africa and Australia.
“He hit the jackpot and was able to hide behind the Internet,” Cardani said.
Less than a year before The New Millennium Group opened for business, Dompier was avoiding creditors and was evicted from his home. In all, 14 lawsuits were filed in Douglas County Circuit Court accusing Dompier of failing to pay $28,000 in debts accumulated before The New Millennium Group opened for business.
Dompier was the owner of Custom Iron Design, a welding company that installed the iron work for the stone and rail fence that separates Roseburg High School from Harvard Avenue.
Judgments were issued against Dompier in each of the cases. They have not been paid.
In 1987, Dompier was convicted in Lane County of sexually abusing his three minor daughters. The abuse was discovered after Dompier and his wife at the time abandoned the children and they were placed in shelter care by the state of Oregon, according to a court document.
U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan also ordered Richard J. Dompier, 48, to pay $2.8 million in restitution to his victims.
A federal jury in Eugene convicted Dompier in February of all 29 charges brought against him. He was found guilty of multiple counts of mail fraud, money laundering, transporting stolen funds across state lines and tax evasion.
“We are very satisfied with the sentence given by Judge Hogan,” said Chris Cardani, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case. “The sentence is significant.”
Operating out of an office on West Harrison Street, Dompier promised investors they could earn a return of $16,000 within a year after buying 1-ounce silver bars for $98.
A company operated by Dompier, The New Millennium Group, began pushing the investment opportunity in July 1998 through direct mail advertisements, Internet come-ons and paid promoters in the United States and England.
In reality, the investment program was nothing more than a pyramid scheme in which Dompier paid some early investors with money provided by later investors.
The bogus investment plan generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for The New Millennium Group within a short time. He later opened offices in North Carolina, where he moved, Minnesota and Great Britain.
From July 1998 through October 2000, Dompier sold 75,920 silver bars to investors. Most were from the United States, England and Canada, but there were also victims in Africa and Australia.
“He hit the jackpot and was able to hide behind the Internet,” Cardani said.
Less than a year before The New Millennium Group opened for business, Dompier was avoiding creditors and was evicted from his home. In all, 14 lawsuits were filed in Douglas County Circuit Court accusing Dompier of failing to pay $28,000 in debts accumulated before The New Millennium Group opened for business.
Dompier was the owner of Custom Iron Design, a welding company that installed the iron work for the stone and rail fence that separates Roseburg High School from Harvard Avenue.
Judgments were issued against Dompier in each of the cases. They have not been paid.
In 1987, Dompier was convicted in Lane County of sexually abusing his three minor daughters. The abuse was discovered after Dompier and his wife at the time abandoned the children and they were placed in shelter care by the state of Oregon, according to a court document.
Dompier was sentenced to five years in prison in that case, but served less than two years before being paroled.
Because of those convictions and Dompier’s long history of drug and alcohol abuse, Cardani argued against a reduced sentence. Dompier faced 168 to 210 months and Cardani recommended the lower end of the sentencing guidelines.
Investors may never recover their losses.
“The money he got is gone. He spent it,” Cardani said. “He does not have deep pockets.”
Dompier spent money sponsoring a NASCAR race driver. He also started a motorcycle company, made improvements to his residence and bought vehicles and jewelry.
The scammer was also scammed himself. Dompier lost $200,000 through a Nigerian e-mail scam.
Sadly, schemes similar to the one Dompier carried out are becoming more commonplace, Cardani said. The ease of access through the Internet makes it easy to reach potential marks and a slick Web page presentation makes it difficult to evaluate whether an offer is legitimate.
Federal officials warn the public to be extremely cautious before sinking money in non-traditional investment opportunities. Promises of guaranteed profits or excessive earning potential should be viewed with skepticism, they said.
Dompier has filed to appeal his conviction.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Because of those convictions and Dompier’s long history of drug and alcohol abuse, Cardani argued against a reduced sentence. Dompier faced 168 to 210 months and Cardani recommended the lower end of the sentencing guidelines.
Investors may never recover their losses.
“The money he got is gone. He spent it,” Cardani said. “He does not have deep pockets.”
Dompier spent money sponsoring a NASCAR race driver. He also started a motorcycle company, made improvements to his residence and bought vehicles and jewelry.
The scammer was also scammed himself. Dompier lost $200,000 through a Nigerian e-mail scam.
Sadly, schemes similar to the one Dompier carried out are becoming more commonplace, Cardani said. The ease of access through the Internet makes it easy to reach potential marks and a slick Web page presentation makes it difficult to evaluate whether an offer is legitimate.
Federal officials warn the public to be extremely cautious before sinking money in non-traditional investment opportunities. Promises of guaranteed profits or excessive earning potential should be viewed with skepticism, they said.
Dompier has filed to appeal his conviction.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Helpful links
These Web sites offer information to educate people on investment schemes and other kinds of financial fraud scams.
• http://www.fraudaid.com • http://www.fbi.gov • http://www.sec.gov |
