U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney

District of Connecticut

Connecticut Financial Center
157 Church Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
ww.usdoj.gov/usao/ct

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2008

CONTACT: Tom Carson
Public Information Office
(203) 821-3722
(203) 996-1393 (cell)

LEDYARD RESIDENT ARRESTED ON FRAUD CHARGES

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced CHRISTOPHER M. PEARSON, 48, of Old Pequot Trail, Ledyard, has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud. PEARSON was arrested earlier today by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He appeared this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven and released on a $200,000 bond.

The criminal complaint alleges that PEARSON, formerly a Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the Mashantucket-Pequot Indian Tribe, defrauded a number of investors out of more than $500,000 that he obtained from them based upon his representations that he would purchase real property on the Island of Roatan, Honduras, on their behalf. PEARSON is alleged to have represented that the land ultimately would be utilized for a resort and casino project that he was developing on behalf of the Foxwoods Casino. It is alleged that PEARSON then collected money from the investors but never purchased property for them with the money. In fact, the complaint alleges that there never was any plan to build a Foxwoods Resort or Casino on Roatan. After receiving money from the investors, the complaint alleges that PEARSON diverted it to his own use through a variety of large and small purchases.

Acting United States Attorney Dannehy stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to have this matter presented to a grand jury and, in the event an indictment is returned, he is entitled to a trial at which it will be the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric J. Glover.