According to FinanceFeeds, the U.S. prosecutors, however, insist that the Israeli Shira Uzan, a former sales representative for fraudulent Israeli binary option schemes BigOption and BinaryBook, presents a serious risk of flight. Shira Uzan, also known by her stage names “Shira Baror,” and “Emily Laski” has pleaded guilty of binary options fraud is awaiting sentencing. She has requested to be released from electronic monitoring. The U.S. prosecutors have filed its response to the defendant’s request earlier this week.
From January 2015 to September 2016, Shira Uzan worked as a sales representative for BigOption and BinaryBook. Uzan and other perpetrators in the BigOption and BinaryBook scheme approached retail investors with the goal to obtain maximum deposits and take steps to ensure that investors lost money in their accounts. This was called “conversion services” and “retention services” and the perpetrators called themselves agents or account managers. Sound like a real business, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it was aggressive fraud. Uzan is directly responsible for approximately $1,819,595 in investor losses, the U.S. prosecutors estimate.
Shira Uzan (a/k/a “Shira Baror” and “Emily Laski”) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud charged. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 22, 2019. She is now a convicted felon, facing an advisory sentencing guideline range of imprisonment for 46-57 months. Uzan seeks to be released from electronic monitoring so that she may be able to immerse in a mikveh bath in accordance with her religious practices without damaging the electronic monitoring equipment.
In their response, the U.S. authorities note that Uzan is a foreign national and thus poses a serious risk of flight. Accordingly, the US Government requests that if the Court grants Uzan’s motion to release her from electronic monitoring, that the Court impose the following additional conditions of release:
- i) Restricting Uzan to home confinement, except for activities related to the practice of her religion, to include religious services and the performance of rituals;
- ii) Increasing the existing property bond to $1,819,595, secured by either residence or the defendant’s spouse’s business.
In addition to Shira Uzan, five other people are involved in the binary options scam with BinaryBook and BigOption:
- Lee Elbaz (a/k/a “Lena Green”), the former CEO of the Israel-based company,
Yukom Communications, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud, the trial date has been set for July 16, 2019. - Austin Smith (a/k/a “John Ried”), former Vice President of Numaris, a partner of
Yukom Communications pleaded guilty, and founder of Wealth Recovery International. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 3, 2019. - Yair Hadar (a/k/a “Steven Gold”), former sales representative for BigOption at
Yukom Communications, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, arraignment has been scheduled for March 21, 2019 - Lissa Mel (a/k/a “Monica Sanders”) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sentencing for defendant Mel has been scheduled for June 17, 2019.
- Liora Welles (a/k/a “Lindsay Cole,” “Lindsay Wells,” and “Lindsay Taylor”) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 22, 2019.
