Case Number: 1:17-cr-00417-RBJ

Judge: R. Brooke Jackson

Court: United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Denver County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Hetal J. Doshi and Matthew T. Kirsch

Defendant's Attorney: Paul Petruzzi for Angela Nicole Monaco

Mary Virginia Butterton for Steven Dykes

Richard Merlino for Pasquale Rubbo

Description: Denver, CO - Three More Florida Residents Sentenced in $6,000,000 Investment Fraud

Steven Dykes, age 61, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Pasquale Rubbo, age 51, of Coral Springs, Florida, and Angela Monaco, age 45, of Coconut Creek, Florida, were sentenced on August 16, 2018 by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson for their role in a six-million-dollar investment fraud. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven Osborne. U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced Steven Dykes to 108 months imprisonment, Pasquale Rubbo to 106 months imprisonment, and Angela Monaco to 74 months imprisonment. Each of the defendants previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, including the stipulated facts contained in the defendants’ plea agreements, from December 2012 to November 2017, along with two other, engaged in a conspiracy to defraud more than thirty mostly elderly investors, including two investors in Colorado, of more than $6,000,000 in an investment fraud scheme. The investment fraud scheme focused on a television production company based in South Florida, VIP Television, LLC, as well as a cleaning product, the “Scrubbieglove,” which was also patented in Florida. Investors sent money to both of these companies as a result of false statements about VIP Television’s merger opportunities and interest in the Scrubbieglove by entities such as QVC, Walgreens, and Bed, Bath & Beyond. All of the defendants except Monaco had previous convictions for similar criminal activity.

Two other members of the conspiracy, Joseph Rubbo and Nicolas Rubbo were previously sentenced in a related case in United States District Court for the District of Colorado to 60 months and 48 months of imprisonment, respectively.

“These defendants cheated vulnerable, elderly Coloradans and others out of their hard-earned money. Now they get what they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer.

“The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect our citizens from those who engage in complex white-collar fraud schemes," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers. “Today’s sentencing of Steven Dykes, Pasquale Rubbo, and Angela Monaco should send a strong message the FBI will hold those who exploit innocent investors for personal gain accountable for their actions.”

“Investment fraud has brought ruin to many Americans” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven Osborne. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to partnering with other law enforcement agencies to stop financial crimes being committed by people such as Monaco and the Rubbos, and today’s sentence is a reflection of that commitment.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.

Charges:

18 U.S.C. § 1349, Attempt and Conspiracy
(1)
18 U.S.C. § 1957, Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity
(12)

Outcome: 08/16/2018 132 ADVISORY NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH COURT RULES/PROCEDURES: re: 131 Notice (Other) filed by attorney Paul Domenic Petruzzi. The document was scanned and not converted directly to portable document format (PDF). DO NOT REFILE THE DOCUMENT. Action to take - future documents must be filed pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCr49.1(a) and 1.3(f) of the Electronic Case Filing Procedures (Criminal Cases). (Text Only Entry) (dkals, ) (Entered: 08/16/2018)
08/16/2018 133 COURTROOM MINUTES/MINUTE ENTRY for Sentencing proceedings held before Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 8/16/2018 as to defendant Angela Nicole Monaco (1). Defendant present on BOND. Denying 103 Motion for Decrease for Acceptance of Responsibility as to Angela Nicole Monaco (1). Doc. No. 99 is GRANTED. Defendant sentenced as reflected on the record. Defendant is REMANDED. Court Reporter: Sarah Mitchell. (babia) Modified on 8/17/2018 (babia, ). (Entered: 08/17/2018)
08/16/2018 134 MINUTE ENTRY for Sentencing proceedings held before Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 8/16/2018 as to Defendant Steven Dykes (2). Defendant present on BOND. Denying 103 Motion for Decrease for Acceptance of Responsibility as to Steven Dykes (2). Denying 108 Motion for Non-Guideline Sentence as to Steven Dykes (2). Granting Doc. No. 102. Denying Doc. No. 94. Defendant sentenced as reflected on the record. Defendant is REMANDED. Court Reporter: Sarah Mitchell. (babia) (Entered: 08/17/2018)
08/16/2018 135 AMENDED COURTROOM MINUTES/MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 8/16/2018 as to Angela Nicole Monaco (1). Court Reporter: Sarah Mitchell. (babia) (Entered: 08/17/2018)
08/16/2018 136 COURTROOM MINUTES/MINUTE ENTRY for Sentencing proceedings held before Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 8/16/2018 as to defendant Pasquale Rubbo. Defendant present on BOND. Denying 103 Motion for Decrease for Acceptance of Responsibility as to Pasquale Rubbo (3). Granting Doc. No. 96. Defendant sentenced as reflected on the record. Defendant is REMANDED. Court Reporter: Sarah Mitchell. (babia) (Entered: 08/17/2018)

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