Jan.07, 2010

Local developer John D. Terzakis was arrested Wednesday on charges that he and a partner ran a Ponzi scheme through a San Jose, Calif.-based investment company, Vesta Strategies.

Mr. Terzakis, 52, a Hinsdale resident, and his former partner, Robert E. Estupinian of San Jose, Calif., were arraigned in federal court Wednesday on 12 felony counts of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. A grand jury indicted the men Dec. 30.

Vesta specialized in so-called 1031 exchanges, real estate investment vehicles that allow investors to defer capital gains taxes on property sales. The indictment alleges that Messrs. Terzakis and Estupinian used new client deposits to return what was owed to earlier clients and withheld the rest of the money for their own use.

Vesta reportedly paid its employees through another Terzakis-controlled entity, Willowbrook-based real estate firm Single Site Solutions Corp., according to the indictment.

If convicted, both men could face up to 20 years in prison. The government also is seeking a forfeiture of $24.6 million.

There was no answer Thursday afternoon at Single Site Solutions, and Mr. Terzakis' home number is unpublished.

The indictment is the latest legal problem for Mr. Terzakis, who has been peppered with foreclosure lawsuits in recent months from various banks.