UNITED STATESDISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

cAsENo.77 - 2 O &)V7- (C--L-ttxtj'!e.%

UNITED STATES OF AM ERICA

VS.

JUDITH DIANNE PARIS-PINDER,

Defendant.

/

PLEA AGREEM ENT

TheUnitedStatesAttorney'sOfficefortheSouthernDistrictofFlorida(iûthisOff5ce'')and

Judith Dianne Paris-pinder(hereinafterrefered to as:ûllefendant'')enterinto the following

agreement:

DefendantagreestopleadguiltytoCountlofthelnform ation,which countcharges

DefendantwithW ireFraud,inviolationofTitlel8,UnitedStatesCode,Section 1343.

Defendantisawarethatthesentencewillbeimposed bytheCourtafterconsidering

the advisory FederalSentencing Guidelinesand Policy Statements (hereinafteriçsentencing

Guidelines''). DefendantacknowledgesandunderstandsthattheCourtwillcomputeanadvisory

sentenceundertheSentencingGuidelinesandthattheapplicableguidelineswillbedeterminedby

theCourtrelying inpartontheresultsofapre-sentenceinvestigation by theCourt'sprobation

office,which investigationwillcommenceaftertheguiltypleahasbeen entered. Defendantis

alsoawarethat,undercertaincircumstances,theCourtmaydepartfrom theadvisorysentencing

guideline range thatithascomputed and may raiseorlowerthatadvisory sentence underthe

SentencingGuidelines. DefendantisfurtherawareandunderstandsthattheCourtisrequiredto

considerthe advisory guideline rangedetermined undertheSentencing Guidelines,butisnot

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Case 1:22-cr-20452-DPG Document 12 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/16/2022 Page 1 of 11
boundtoimposeasentencewithinthatadvisoryrange',theCourtisperm ittedtotailortheultimate

sentenceinlightofotherstatutoryconcerns,andsuchsentencemay beeithermoresevereorless

severe than the Sentencing Guidelines' advisory range. Knowing these facts, Defendant

understandsandacknowledgesthattheCourthastheauthoritytoimposeanysentencewithinand

uptothestatutorymaximum authorizedbylaw fortheoffenseidentifiedinparagraph landthat

Defendantmaynotwithdraw thepleasolelyasaresultofthesentenceimposed.

DefendantalsounderstandsandacknowledgesthattheCourtm ay imposeastatutory

maximum term ofimprisonmentofupto20years,followedby aterm ofsupervisedreleaseofup

tothree(3)years. lnadditiontoatenm ofimprisonmentandsupervisedrelease,theCourtmay

imposeafineofupto$250,000ordoublethegrossgainorgrossloss,andmustorderrestitution.

TheCourtmayalsoorderforfeiture.

Defendantfurtherunderstandsand acknowledgesthat,in addition to any sentence

imposedunderparagraph3ofthisagreement,aspecialassessmentintheamountof$l00willbe

imposed on Defendant. Defendantagreesthatanyspecialassessmentimposed shallbepaidat

the time of sentencing. If Defendant is financially unable to pay the specialassessment,

DefendantagreestopresentevidencetothisOfficeandtheCourtatthetimeofsentencingasto

thereasonsforDefendant'sfailuretopay.

ThisOfticereservestherighttoinform theCourtandtheprobationofficeofallfacts

pertinentto the sentencing process,including aIlrelevantinform ation concerning theoffenses

comm itted,whetherchargedornot,aswellasconcerningDefendantandDefendant'sbackground.

Subjectonlytotheexpresstermsofanyagreed-uponsentencingrecommendationscontainedin

thisagreement,thisOfficefurtherreservestherighttomakeanyrecommendationastothequality

andquantityofpunishment.

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ThisOfficeagreesthatitwillrecommendatsentencingthattheCoul'treducebytwo

levelsthe sentencing guideline levelapplicable to Defendant's offense, pursuantto Section

3E1.1(a)oftheSentencingGuidelines,baseduponDefendant'srecognitionandaffirmativeand

timely acceptanceofpersonalresponsibility. lfatthetime ofsentencing Defendant'soffense

levelisdeterminedtobe16orgreater,thisOfficewillm akeamotionrequestinganadditionalone

leveldecreasepursuanttoSection3El.l(b)oftheSentencingGuidelines,statingthatDefendant

hasassisted authoritiesin the investigation orprosecution ofDefendant'sown m isconductby

timely notifyingauthoritiesofDefendant'sintentiontoenterapleaofguilty, therebypermitting

thegovernmenttoavoidpreparingfortrialandperm ittingthegovernmentandtheCourttoallocate

theirresourcesefficiently. ThisOfficefurtheragreestorecommendthatDefendantbesentenced

atthe low end ofthe guidelinerange,asthatrangeisdetenuined by theCourt. ThisOffice,

however,willnotberequiredtomakethismotionandtheserecommendationsifDefendant:(1)

failsorrefusesto make afull,accurateand complete disclosureto theprobation office ofthe

circumstancessurroundingtherelevantoffenseconduct',(2)isfoundtohavemisrepresentedfacts

tothegovernmentpriortoenteringintothispleaagreement',or(3)commitsanymisconductafter

enteringintothispleaagreement,includingbutnotlim itedtocomm ittingastateorfederaloffense,

violating any term of release, or making false statements or m isrepresentations to any

governmentalentityorofficial.

Defendantagreestopleadguilty toCountloftheInformation,which countcharges

DefendantwithW ireFraud,inviolationofTitlel8,UnitedStatesCode,Section I343. Defendant

agreesandunderstandsthatthischargeinvolvesDefendant'sconductfrom inoraroundNovember

2019 through in oraround August202l,in an investmentfraud schemewhereby peoplewere

enticedtoinvestinabusinessthatpurportedlyused investorfundsto pay civilplaintiffclientsa

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reducedadvanceontheirinsurancesettlementstherebym aking aprofitoncethefullsettlem ents

werepaid,when in truth Defendantused new investormoney to pay existing investors, while

taking substantialinvestorproceedsforherownuseandenjoyment. Thepleaenteredby

Defendantpursuant to this agreement resolves Defendant's federalcrim inalliability in the

SouthernDistrictofFloridagrowingoutofDefendant'scriminalconductintheinvestmentfraud

schemedescribedhereinasknowntotheUnitedStatesAttorney'sOfficefortheSouthernDistrict

ofFloridaasofthedateofthispleaagreement.

8. ThisOfficeand Defendantagreethat,althoughnotbindingontheprobationofficeor

theCourt,theywilljointlyrecommendthattheCourtmakethefolowingfindingsandconclusions

astothesentencetobeimposed:

BaseOffenseLevel:ThattheBaseOffenseLevelunderSection2Bl.1(a)(l)

oftheSentencingGuidelinesis7.

(2). Loss:Thattherelevantamountofactual,probableorintendedlossunder

Section281.1(b)(1)oftheSentencingGuidelinesresultingfrom theoffensecommitedinthiscase

ismorethan$1,500,000butlessthan$3,500,000.

ThattheOffense involved l0 ormore victim sand resulted in financial

hardshiptooneormorevictims. Theoffenselevelshouldincreasebytwo(2)levelspursuantto

SentencingGuidelinesSedion2Bl.l(b)(2)(A).

Sophisticated M eans: The parties do nothave an agreementas to the

applicabilityofanadjustmentforsophisticatedmeans,pursuanttoSection2B1.1(b)(10)(C)ofthe

SentencingGuidelines.

Role: ThatDefendantshould notreceiveanadjustmentforroleinthe

offensepursuanttoSections3Bl.1or3Bl.2oftheSentencingGuidelines.

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Abuse of Trustand Use ofSpecialSkill: ThatDefendantshould not

receiveatwo-levelincreasepursuanttoSection3Bl.3oftheSentencingGuidelines.

9. ThisOfficeandDefendantagreethat,althoughnotbindingontheprobationofficeor

theCourt,theywiljointlyrecommendthattheCourtimposeasentencewithintheadvisory

sentencingguidelinerangeproducedbyapplicationoftheSentencingGuidelines. Althoughnot

bindingontheprobationofficeortheCoul't,thisOfficeand Defendantfurtheragreethat,except

asotherwiseexpresslycontemplatedinthisPleaAgreement,theywilljointlyrecommendthatthe

Courtneither departupward nor departdownward underthe Sentencing Guidelines when

determ iningtheadvisorysentencingguidelinerangeinthiscase.

l0. ThisOffice and Defendantstipulate to,and agree notto contest,the facts in the

followingFactualProffer,andstipulatethatsuchfacts,inaccordancewithRule1l(b)(3)ofthe

FederalRulesofCriminalProcedure,providesufficientfactualbasisforthepleaofguilty inthis

matter. Becausethe factualbasissetforth in the FactualProfferhas the lim ited purpose of

supportingDefendant'sguiltypleatothechargecitedinparagraph 1,theFactualProfferdoesnot

purporttorepresentallfactsandcircumstancesrelatingtoDefendant'sparticipation. TheFactual

Profferisasfollows:

Ifthiscasehadproceededtotrial,theUnited Stateswouldprovebeyonda

reasonabledoubtthatsinceatleastin oraround November2019 through in or

around August202l,Defendantexecuted an investmentfraud scheme,which

schemeutilizedinterstatewirecommunications,includingelectronicbanktransfers

andtelephonecommunications.

ln thisfraudscheme,Defendantrepresentedto investorsthatsheworked

for(orwith)anaccidentatorneywhohadclientswithpendinglawsuitinsurance

settlem entscoming. Thepurportedclientswerewillingtotakeasmallerpaym ent

immediately inreturn forlaterprovidingthelargerinsurancesettlementpaym ent

to the investor. Defendanttold investors she was looking for ûhard money

lenders''to financethepaymentsto theattorney'sclients. Defendantexplained

the investorwould receive their investment plus interest when the insurance

companypaidinfull.

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DefendantdocumentedtheinvestmentsviacontractscalledilBusinessLoan

Agreements.''Thecontractsstatedtheinvestorwasûinvesting''inabusinessdeal

with Defendant. Defendant signed the contracts as the ûBorrower'-and the

investorsigned asthetûtaender.'' Thecontractstipulated thatDefendantwould

repaytheinvestorinfullplusthestatedinterestonadatestatedinthecontract.

Defendantused bank accountsin thenameofthePinderAssociatesLLC

and Pinder M ulti Services & M arketing Group LLC, companies Defendant

controlled,toacceptandhandleinvestorfunds. Defendantpreferredtoreceivethe

fundsfrom investorsincash,butalsoacceptedfundsviawiretransfers.

Defendantsolicited investorspersonallyand also offeredcommissionsto

existing investors to bring her new investors. Whateverthe form of the

solicitation,Defendant'srepresentationswerethesame:(1)theinvestor'smoney

wouldbeusedtomakepartialadvancesonoutstandingpaymentsfrom insurance

companies',(2)the investmentwould realize a profitwhen the fullinsurance

setlementwaspaidataIaterdate;and(3)theinvestorwouldbepaidbackthefull

investmentprincipalplusanagreeduponinterest(typically50%)attheendofthe

investmentterm (typicallysixweeks).

Defendant'srepresentationstoinvestorsthatinvestormoneywouldbeused

tomakepartialadvancesonoutstandingpaymentsfrom insurancecompaniesand

thattheinvestmentwould realizeaprofitwhen thefullinsurancesettlementwas

paid werelies. ln truth,Defendantdid notuse investorfundsto makeadvance

partialpaymentsoninsurancesettlements.Therefore,Defendant'sabilitytorepay

investorstheirmoneyplusthepromisedreturnsdependedonherabilitytocontinue

to raisenew investormoney,usethenew fundsraisedtopay existinginvestment

contracts,andconvinceexistinginvestorstorollovertheirinvestmentsintoanew

investm entcontractsthusdeferringherobligationtopayinvestors.

InvestorCSJEM ''wasfirstsolicitedby ilnvestorl,''anearlierinvestorwho

was raising funds for Defendant in exchange for the prom ised payment of

commissions. In2021,InvestorltoldJEM thatDefendantworkedforanattorney

andwaslookingforinvestorstofundadvancepaymentsto legalclientswhowere

pending a Iawsuitsettlem entpaymentfrom accidents butwanted money now.

Defendantwouldusetheinvestor'smoneytoadvanceareducedamounttothelegal

client,andtheinvestorwouldrealizeaprofitwhenthefullinsurance settlement

waspaid. JEM waspromised50% returnoninvestmentinsixweeks. Thereafter,

JEM spoketoDefendantonthetelephone. DefendantverifiedwhatJEM hadbeen

toldabouttheinvestmentopportunitysheoffered. JEM agreedto invest$10,000.

Defendanttold JEM thatbecause JEM wasinNew York and Defendantwasin

M iami,JEM shouldwirehisinvestmentmoneytoDefendant.

OnoraboutAugust2,202l,JEM wired$l0,000from hisUSAA Federal

SavingsBankaccountendingin9348,throughserversinTexasandNew Jersey,to

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Defendant'sTD Bankaccountendingin 1566,inM iami,Florida. lnreturn,JEM

wasemailedaninvestmentcontractsignedbyDefendantandlûeffective''August1,

202l. lnthiscontract,DefendantpromisedtoreturntoJEM the$10,000invested

plus$5,000ttinterest''nolaterthan September13,2021. OnSeptember7,2021,

beforeexpirationofthisfirstcontract,JEM similarlyinvestedanadditional$10,000

withDefendantinanotherinvestmentcontract.

W henthepaymenton theAugustl,202l,investmentcontractwasdue,

JEM asked Defendantto pay JEM . Defendantdid not pay JEM . Instead,

DefendanttoldJEM toçûbepatient''andmadeprom isestopayonasubsequentday.

Thereafter,DefendantgaveJEMexcusesfornonpayment,includinjissueswiththe

bank. Later,JEM learnedthatDefendanthadfailedtopayotherlnvestors,andit

becamecleartoJEM thatDefendantwouldnotbepayingJEM .

The$20,000JEM losttoDefendantcamefrom moneyJEM hadsavedin

thehopesofpurchasingahouseortopayforfurthereducation. HadJEM known

thatDefendantwasnotusingthemoneytopay advanceson lawsuitsettlements,

JEM wouldnothaveinvestedwithDefendant.

Throughthisscheme,Defendantfraudulentlyobtained,directlyandthrough

others,approximately $4,614,000 in proceedsfrom investors,thereby causing

approximately$2,439,000inlossestoinvestors.

IntheeventthatforanyreasonDefendantwithdrawsfrom thisagreementpriortoor

afterpleading guiltytothecharged identified inparagraph labove,orshouldthisOffice,in its

solediscretion,determinethatDefendantfailedtofullycomplywithanyoftheprovisionsofthis

agreement,Defendantagreesand understandsthatshewillforego thebenefitsandconcessions

contained in thisplea agreement,and waive any protection afforded by Section lBl.8 ofthe

SentencingGuidelines,aswellasanyprotectionaffordedbyFederalRulesofCriminalProcedure

1l(9andFederalRuleofEvidence410. Defendantfurtherunderstandsthatintheeventthatfor

anyreasonshedoesnotpleadguilty,theFactualProfferandanyotherstatementsmadepreviously

by Defendantunderthisagreementoraspartofany pleadiscussions,willbefully admissible

againstherin any civilorcriminalproceedings,notwithstanding any prioragreementwiththis

Office.

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DefendantisawarethatTitle28,United StatesCode,Section 1291and Title l8,

United StatesCode,Section 3742 afford Defendanttherighttoappealthesentenceimposed in

thiscase. Acknowledgingthis,inexchangefortheundertakingsmadeby theUnited Statesin

thispleaagreement,Defendantherebywaivesallrightsconferedby Sections1291and 3742to

appealanysentenceimposed,includinganyrestitutionorder,ortoappealthemannerinwhichthe

sentencewasimposed,unlessthesentenceexceedsthemaximum permitted by statuteoristhe

resultofanupwarddepartureand/oranupward variancefrom theadvisory guidelinerangethat

theCourtestablishesatsentencing. Defendantfurtherunderstandsthatnothinginthisagreement

shallaffectthe government'srightand/orduty to appealassetforth in Title 18,United States

Code,Section3742(b)andTitle28,UnitedStatesCode,Sectionl291. However,iftheUnited

StatesappealsDefendant'ssentencepursuanttoSections3742(17)and 129l,Defendantshallbe

releasedfrom theabovewaiverofhisrighttoappealhissentence.

DefendantfurtherherebywaivesallrightsconferredbyTitle28,UnitedStatesCode,

Section1291toassertanyclaim that(1)thestatutets)towhichDefendantispleadingguiltyis/are

unconstitutional',and/or(2)theadmittedconductdoesnotfallwithinthescopeofthestatutets)of

conviction.

Bysigningthisagreement,DefendantacknowledgesthatDefendanthasdiscussedthe

appealwaiversetforth inthisagreem entwith Defendant'sattorney. Defendantfurtheragrees,

togetherwiththisOffice,torequestthattheCourtenteraspecificfindingthatDefendant'swaiver

ofhisrighttoappealthesentenceimposedinthiscaseandhisrighttoappealhisconvictioninthe

m annerdescribed abovew asknow ing andvoluntary.

Defendantagrees,inan individpalandanyothercapacity,to forfeittotheUnited

States,voluntarily andimmediately,anyright,title,andinteresttoanyproperty,realorpersonal,

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which constitutes orisderived from proceedstraceable to the comm ission ofthe offense in

violationofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section1343,pursuanttoTitle18, United StatesCode,

Section98l(a)(1)(C). Inaddition,Defendantagreestoforfeitureofsubstitutepropertypursuant

toTitle21,UnitedStatesCode,Section853(p). Thepropel'tysubjecttoforfeitureincludes,but

isnotlimitedto:

aforfeituremoneyjudgmentinthesum ofapproximately$2,439,000inUnited

Statescurrency,which sum representsthevalueofanypropertythatconstitutesor

isderivedfrom proceedstraceabletoDefendant'scomm issionoftheoffense.

Defendantfurtheragreesthatforfeitureisindependentofanyassessm ent,fine,cost,

restitution,orpenaltythatmaybe im posedbytheCourt.Defendantknowingly and voluntarily

agrees to waive allconstitutional,legal,and equitable defenses to the forfeiture,including

excessive Gnes underthe Eighth Amendmentto the United States Constitution.ln addition,

Defendantagreestowaive:anyapplicabletimelimitsforadministrativeorjudicialforfeiture

proceedings,therequirementsofFed.Rs.Crim.P.32.2and43(a),andanyappealoftheforfeiture.

Defendantalso agreesto fully and truthfully disclose the existence,natureand

location ofallassetsin which Defendanthasorhad any directorindirectfinancialinterestor

control,andanyassetsinvolvedintheoffenseofconviction. Defendantagreestotakeallsteps

requestedbytheUnited StatesfortherecoveryandforfeitureofallassetsidentifiedbytheUnited

Statesassubjecttoforfeiture. Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,thetimelydeliveryuponrequest

ofalInecessaryandappropriatedocumentationtodelivergoodandmarketabletitle,consentingto

allordersofforfeiture,and notcontesting orimpeding in any way with any criminal,civilor

administrativeforfeitureproceedingconcerningtheforfeiture.

18. Infurtheranceofthesatisfactionofaforfeituremoneyjudgmententeredbythe

Courtinthiscase,Defendantagreestothefollowing:

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a. submitafinancialstatementtothisOfficeuponrequest,within 14calendar

daysfrom therequest;

b. maintainany assetvaluedinexcessof$10,000,andnotsell,hide,waste,

encumber,destroy,orotherwisedevaluesuchassetwithoutpriorapprovalof

theUnitedStates;

provideinformationaboutanytransferofanassetvaluedinexcessof$10,000

sincethecom mencementoftheoffenseconductinthiscasetodate;

cooperatefullyintheinvestigationandtheidentificationofassets,including

liquidating assets,meeting with representatives ofthe United States,and

providinganydocumentationrequested;and

notify,within 30 days,theClerk ofthe Courtforthe Southern Districtof

Floridaand thisOfficeof:(i)any changeofname,residence,ormailing

address,and(ii)anymaterialchangeineconomiccircumstances.

Defendant furtherunderstands that providing false or incomplete information about assets,

concealingassets,m akingmateriallyfalsestatementsorrepresentations,ormakingorusingfalse

writingsordocumentspertainingtoassets,takingany actionthatwould impedetheforfeitureof

assets,orfailingtocooperatefullyintheinvestigationand identificationofassetsmaybeusedas

abasisfor:(i)separateprosecution,including,under18U.S.C.jl00l;or(ii)recommendationof

adenialofareductionforacceptanceofresponsibilitypursuanttotheUnitedStatesSentencing

Guidelinesj3EI.I.

l9. Defendantrecognizesthatpleadingguilty mayhaveconsequenceswith respectto

Defendant'simmigration statusifDefendantisnota natural-born citizen ofthe United States.

Underfederallaw,abroadrangeofcrimesareremovableoffenses,includingtheoffensetowhich

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dtfendantispltadingguilty.

l)eaconsequenceofpltadingguiltytoacrime

.

lnaddition,undercem incircumstlmces, denaturaliationmayalso

Removal,denanlmlization,andotherimmigration

consequencesarethesubjectofasepm teproceeding,however,anddefendantunderstandsthat

no one,including Defendlmt'sattomey ortheCourt

, canpredictto acertainty theehkctof

Defendant'sconvictiononDefendam'simmigratio

nstams. Defendantneverthelessam rmsthat

DefendO twantstopleadguiltyregxMlessofanyimmig

rationconsequencesthatDefendant'splea

may entail,even iftlleconsequenceisDefendant'sden

aMlmlizationandautomaticremoval&om

theUnitedStates.

20. Tlzisistheentireagreementandtmderstandingbet

weenthisOm ceandDefendlnt.

n erearenootheragreements

,promises,representations. ortmderstandings.

oate: tt 16 zpzp

Date: 1 o ezz-z--

Date: 6 -f- ,p.p--

JUAN ANTONIO GONM LEZ

UNITED STATESAH ORNEY

By:

%

Eric ,M orales

By:

By:

AssistantU.S.Attom ey

SCOU B. UL ESQ.

ArroRx kDBFEXDA T

/

JUD H DIANNEPARIS-PINDER

DEFENDANT

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