NORTH FLORIDA — A Florida man has been convicted for stealing more than half a million dollars from elderly victims in a bogus gold mine investment scheme, said Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
Niceville.com Community Partner
The man, Bernard Joseph McBride Jr., is said to have promised seniors large returns on fake investments through a company he called Tutela Mining, Inc. He reportedly convinced victims to drain their retirement accounts to invest, only to spend the funds on himself and his family.
According to prosecutors, the so-called gold mine never existed. McBride used the victims’ money to fund personal expenses — including his stepdaughter’s wedding — and pay family members for no-show jobs. Investigators say the scam totaled over $575,000.
“My office is ensuring that criminals can’t get away with defrauding Florida’s seniors,” said Attorney General Uthmeier.
“Thanks to Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Jonathan Bridges and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Joshua Dockus, working with our law enforcement partners, we ensured this con man stays behind bars.”
McBride was convicted on one count of grand theft over $100,000 and two counts of grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000. He now faces up to 60 years in state prison.
Niceville.com Community Partner
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Office of Financial Regulation investigated the case.
The Attorney General’s Office noted that scams targeting seniors are on the rise and offered the following tips:
- Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics
- Discuss financial decisions with trusted family or friends
- Never give out personal information to unknown sources
- Monitor your bank accounts closely
- Avoid clicking links in suspicious messages
Floridians can report scams by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM.
