SACRAMENTO — After an eight-day trial, a federal jury on June 18 returned a guilty verdict against Daniel Chartraw, 53, formerly of South Lake Tahoe and Lodi, finding him responsible for a wide-ranging series of fraudulent schemes involving cryptocurrency companies, sham business ventures and false investment guarantees that caused substantial financial losses to numerous victims across the country, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“This verdict sends a clear message: individuals who exploit the trust of others and steal through deception will be held accountable,” Grant said. “The defendant lied to investors and caused serious financial and emotional harm. Our office will continue to pursue those who use emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency, as vehicles for fraud.”
MANAGEMENT & CULTURE (THE “TONE AT THE TOP”)
Fraud thrives in “sloppy” environments where leadership ignores the rules.
- The Fraud Triangle: For fraud to occur, three elements must be present: Pressure (the need for money), Rationalization (thinking “I deserve this”), and Opportunity (weak controls). You can only control the Opportunity.
- Whistleblower Hotline: Provide an anonymous way for staff to report “odd behavior.” Most internal frauds are caught via tips, not audits.
- Background Checks: Conduct credit and criminal record checks for all employees in financial or data-sensitive roles.
- Annual Ethics Training: Make sure every staff member knows that the company has a Zero Tolerance policy toward “borrowing” from petty cash or fudging overtime.