Jury Convicts Three in Scam of Gambrills Couple

A jury in Minnesota last week found three men guilty of participating in an international scam that bilked millions of dollars from unsuspecting people, including a Gambrills couple.

The Minnesota Star-Tribune reported on the conviction tied to one of the largest Ponzi schemes in state history. The newspaper said the three men worked with convicted fraudster Trevor Cook in taking $194 million from a wide range of victims, including many elderly people.

The victims in the Ponzi scheme included Richard and Rita Myers, who lost their Gambrills home to foreclosure after entrusting their life savings to Cook. The couple lost $3 million in cash and $2 million in gold and silver coins, according to the Star-Tribune.

Cook pleaded guilty to fraud and tax evasion in 2010 and is serving 25 years in prison.

The three men convicted last week as co-conspirators were Jason “Bo” Beckman, Gerald Durand and Patrick Kelly, all of whom purported to be investment experts. The men all used funds from ordinary people to who thought they were investing in international markets that promised double-digit returns with no risk.