In a significant legal victory, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has successfully recovered approximately $700,000 for victims defrauded by John Kevin Moore, a Kalispell resident who orchestrated a multi-million-dollar scam involving fake oil and gas investments and art deals. Moore, convicted in 2018 and sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison, left a trail of financial ruin, but recent efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s financial litigation team have provided much-needed relief to those he deceived.
The Deceptive Scheme of John Kevin Moore
John Kevin Moore’s fraudulent activities were both elaborate and deceitful. By establishing two companies, Big Sky Mineral Resources LLC and Glacier Gala, Moore managed to lure investors with promises of lucrative returns from oil and gas leases and high-value artwork transactions. His well-crafted facade convinced investors to contribute over $2 million, believing they were participating in profitable ventures.
In reality, Moore’s operations were a classic Ponzi scheme. Rather than investing the money as promised, Moore used new funds to pay earlier investors, thereby creating the illusion of financial success. Additionally, he diverted substantial amounts to cover his personal expenses, including payments on expensive properties. This misuse of funds resulted in substantial losses for many investors.
The Legal Consequences for John Kevin Moore
John Kevin Moore’s fraudulent activities eventually caught the attention of federal authorities. In August 2018, he was convicted on 21 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. The court sentenced him in 2019 to over 10 years in prison, ordered him to pay more than $2.2 million in restitution, and ordered him to forfeit assets exceeding $1.9 million.
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Despite this conviction, recovering restitution for the victims remained a daunting task. Fraudsters like Moore often deplete the stolen funds, making it challenging to return money to those harmed. However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remained determined to pursue every possible avenue for restitution.
Recovery Efforts and Success
The recent recovery of $700,000 from John Kevin Moore’s fraud scheme highlights the effectiveness of the U.S. Attorney’s financial litigation division. The team targeted a ranch in Valley County, Montana, owned by Moore’s now-dissolved business, Milk River Hunting Preserve, LLC. By asserting a restitution lien against Moore’s interest in this property, the government managed to secure approximately $700,000 from the ranch’s sale.
The significance of this recovery was emphasized by U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, who stated, “In addition to a federal prison sentence being obtained, the collection of restitution for victims of fraud is considered essential in the pursuit of justice, although restitution is often difficult to obtain because the money is usually spent by the fraudster. However, through the extraordinary dedication and hard work of our financial litigation team, a significant amount of money was tracked down and recovered for the victims of Moore’s fraud, and the benefit from the sale of a ranch in which he had invested was prevented from being gained by Moore.”
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A Step Toward Justice
While the $700,000 recovery is a notable achievement, it represents only a portion of the total restitution John Kevin Moore was ordered to pay. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues its efforts to recover additional funds for Moore’s victims, demonstrating a strong commitment to justice and accountability.
The case of John Kevin Moore serves as a reminder of the severe impact of financial fraud and the complexities involved in obtaining restitution. Nonetheless, the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s financial litigation team has provided some measure of relief for the victims, helping to close a painful chapter in their lives.
The recovery of $700,000 for the victims of John Kevin Moore’s fraudulent schemes emphasizes the importance of persistence in the quest for justice. Through the dedicated efforts of federal prosecutors and financial litigators, those harmed by Moore’s deceitful actions can now begin to recover some of their losses, bringing a degree of closure and restitution to a long and troubling ordeal.
