TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man with Tampa ties was accused of defrauding more than 500 victims out of $105 million in a cross-country operation.
Kristopher Lunsford, 46, of Henderson, Nevada, orchestrated a “Ponzi scheme” involving leasing semi-trucks between December 2023 and May 2025, U.S. Attorney Greg Kehoe said in a news conference Friday.
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As part of the alleged scheme, investors gave Lunsford between $25,000 and $40,0000 upfront and would receive a guaranteed at least $1,000 per week in passive income.
Kehoe said Lunsford paid some early investors and used the rest of the money to fund a luxury lifestyle, including “purchases of real estate, sports cars, jewelry, luxury brand items, private charters, and expenditures at resorts, casinos, and nightclubs.” Lunsford is believed to have only spent $2 million on business-related expenses.
Lunsford was charged with six counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each money laundering count…