LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six Southern California men have been charged with stealing millions of dollars by offering investments in phony movies with names like "The Smuggler" that supposedly featured well-known actors such as Donald Sutherland, federal authorities said Thursday.
The men were charged with fraud in two federal grand jury indictments and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
Arrested Thursday were Samuel Braslau, 53, of Los Angeles and Rand Jay Chortkoff, 64, of Los Angeles, who co-founded the company Mutual Entertainment LLC (later renamed Film Shoot LLC), along with an alleged salesman, Stuart Rawitt, 47, of West Hollywood, prosecutors said.
Braslau pleaded not guilty Thursday, said his attorney, Anne Hwang.
Rawitt pleaded not guilty several weeks ago, said his attorney, Bernard J. Rosen.
A message left for Chortkoff's lawyer was not immediately returned.
Another alleged salesman, Robert Matias, 50, of Los Angeles, is a fugitive, prosecutors said.
Also arrested Thursday was Anthony David Millan, 37, of Chula Vista, who was chief executive officer of a company called C22, authorities said.
Millan has pleaded not guilty, said his lawyer, Tim Scott.
C22's president, Mack Machen, 70, of Los Angeles, was expected to surrender.
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