Losses in Conn. fraud could total $600 million

[October 13, 2012]  HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Documents filed in the criminal case against a Venezuelan-American financier say losses from a Connecticut-based fraud scheme could total as much as $600 million.

Francisco Illarramendi (EE'-yah-rah-mehn-dee) is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty last year to fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice in a scheme to conceal huge losses. A pension fund for Venezuela's state oil workers was his biggest investor.

Illarramendi said in a court filing Thursday that federal prosecutors told him the court-appointed receiver indicated losses could total $600 million, although the government has told him only that the losses exceed $200 million.

The receiver, New York attorney John Carney, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Illarramendi is under house arrest in New Canaan, Conn., ahead of sentencing scheduled for Oct. 30.

[Associated Press]

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