Category: Securities Fraud

When most Coloradoans think of crimes associated with cannabis, their first thought is illegal possession and drug trafficking.

Those aren’t the only crimes that can be connected with drugs, though. Times are changing, and white-collar crime has expanded to include weed schemes as well.

Recently, a Colorado man was found guilty of marijuana fraud. He had been found guilty of racketeering and securities fraud, among other crimes, related to marijuana.

 

White-collar crimes are not solved overnight. States may investigate alleged fraudsters for years before a ruling is made. Victims may not see restitution for decades.

 

This is how the case involving Heartland Energy Development Corporation (HEDC) is playing out. The state has been investigating the company for alleged crimes dating back to 2002, and the story is not over yet.

 

After a judge ruled the company did