Two British citizens arrested for conspiracy to defraud investors, risk 20 years in prison

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, has unsealed an Indictment charging two citizens of the United Kingdom, James Robinson and David Kennedy.

According to a report, both Britons were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The report stated that they engaged in a scheme to defraud victims by making material misrepresentations about the management and operations of a company called Bar Works Inc. and related entities (“Bar Works”).

On November 30, 2022, Robinson and Kennedy were arrested in Spain, and the United States Government will be seeking their extradition to the United States.

According to the indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other court documents related to the prosecution of co-conspirators, in exchange for millions of dollars in commissions, Robinson, Kennedy, and Moore partnered with Haddow in soliciting investments into workspace leases in Bar Works through material misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the identity of Bar Works’ management and the operations of Bar Works.

A report also stated that an account controlled in whole or in part by James Robinson and David Kennedy received over $2 million in commissions from Bar Works in exchange for soliciting victims to invest at least approximately $7.5 million in this scheme.

“Separately, Moore received another approximately $1.6 million from Bar Works. Overall, prior to its collapse in or about June 2017, Bar Works obtained over $57 million from over 800 investors worldwide,” the report unveiled.

They are each charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of wire fraud conspiracy. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.