A Beverly Hills man, Mark Roy Anderson, 70, has been handed down a 25-year prison sentence after a series of fraudulent activities involving cannabis-related business ventures. United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha imposed the sentence and has set June 4 for a restitution hearing, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice. The judge noted the "magnitude of the fraud is breathtaking" and indicated that the victims' statements reflected the depth of the harm, with many losing their life savings reflecting decades of hard work.
Anderson had previously pled guilty in April 2024 to two counts of wire fraud, charges that resulted from separate but related schemes totaling nearly $18 million taken from investors under false pretenses. According to KTLA, Anderson executed these fraudulent activities while on home confinement and supervised release for prior convictions. "The defendant stole more than $18 million from dozens of investors by promising quick returns on their investments into hemp farms and other exotic investments," remarked Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally in a statement obtained by the DOJ.
Anderson's first scheme, running from June 2020 to April 2021, involved luring investors to his Harvest Farm Group by making false claims about owning and operating a hemp farm in Kern County and promising substantial profits from the sale of medical-grade cannabidiol (CBD) isolate, as detailed by the DOJ's report. The second scheme, from April 2021 through May 2023, was based on another set of falsehoods, this time involving his companies Bio Pharma and Verta Bottling. Investors were led to believe that these companies produced and sold CBD-infused products and beverages, but as KTLA noted, in reality, Anderson was drafting fake documents and using the funds for personal expenses, including 15 vehicles and real estate purchases.
FBI's investigation revealed that Anderson solicited over $18.8 million from 45 victims, causing losses of approximately $17,745,150. He has agreed to forfeit the assets acquired through these schemes, including a Ferrari and real estate in Ojai. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section, and the information was confirmed by Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy of the DOJ in a statement reported by KTLA. Anderson has been in federal custody since May 2023.
