Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven returned an Indictment today charging CHRISTOPHER M. PEARSON, 49, of Old Pequot Trail, Ledyard, with 11 counts of wire fraud.

The Indictment alleges that PEARSON, formerly a Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the Mashantucket-Pequot Tribal Nation, defrauded a number of investors out of more than $500,000 that he obtained from them based upon his representations that he would purchase land 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 Tribe.  It is alleged that PEARSON then collected money from the investors but never purchased property for them with the money.  After receiving money from the investors, it is alleged that PEARSON diverted it for his own use.

PEARSON was arrested on May 6, 2008, and subsequently released on a $200,000 bond.

If convicted, PEARSON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, on each count.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is 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.