A former Atlanta investment advisor and radio host has been added to the FBI’s list of Most Wanted Fraudsters, according to Financial Advisor.
54-year-old Christopher W. Burns is wanted for his alleged involvement in a mail fraud scheme in Georgia where he defrauded dozens of victims of at least $10 million.
Authorities said Burns conducted business through several entities, including Investus Advisers, Investus Financial, Dynamic Money, and Peer Connect. He allegedly defrauded investors by promising them that their money would be loaned to startup businesses and charities that needed financing with little or no risk.
As part of his scheme, Burns allegedly falsely told victims that he was investing their money in a “peer to peer” lending program in which loans were backed by collateral. In reality, the collateral promised by Burns either did not exist at all or was worth substantially less than Burns represented.
He allegedly used the victims’ money to repay prior investors and to fund his business and his lavish lifestyle.
The FBI said Burns has not been seen since he left his home on September 24, 2020, one day before he was supposed to turn over documents related to his businesses to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the SEC’s investigation into his alleged involvement in the Ponzi scheme.
Burns was charged in April 2022 by a federal grand jury with 10 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and four counts of money laundering. A federal arrest warrant was issued for him on October 23, 2020. The FBI is now offering a $150,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Burns hosted a radio show from Atlanta in which he gave financial advice to investors, and also was reported to have appeared on television shows where he presented himself as an experienced and well-informed investment professional.
The FBI described Burns as a white male, 6’2 inches tall, with a tattoo on his left forearm of three black triangles interlaced. He was born in Wayne, Pa.
The vehicle he was driving was found abandoned in Dunwoody, Georgia, the FBI said. His last residence was in Berkeley Lake, Georgia.
Anyone with information regarding the case was asked to contact the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), a local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate or tips.fbi.gov.
Hyman Cotter routinely represents investors harmed when financial professionals and their firms engaged in misconduct that caused their clients investment losses. Our team includes lawyers who have worked for large financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services, and regulatory bodies such as the SEC. If you think your financial professional or firm engaged in misconduct that caused you investment losses, contact Hyman Cotter at (833) 665-0784 or through our online contact form for a no-cost evaluation of your matter.
