An Ohio man has faced the music of justice, receiving a sentence of 30 months in prison and a subsequent three years of supervised release for a green energy scheme that defrauded investors out of an estimated $2 million. As the U.S. Attorney's Office reported, Kevin Carney, a 63-year-old Euclid resident, conspired with his business partners to dupe over 20 victims under the guise of an eco-friendly project through their company, Alternative Energy Holdings, LLC.
The prosecution's narrative details how from approximately June 2016 until April 2018, Carney alongside deceased Robert Irey and Jonathan Freeze, capitalized on the burgeoning interest in sustainability, promising a plant that would transform biodegradable waste into green energy, but as the case reached the courtroom, it was revealed that the promises were hollow, as the victims' investments were funneled not into the company, but rather into luxuries and personal indulgences including gambling, expensive clothing, and fine dining. This deceit contradicted their assurances that investor funds were destined for business expenses and plant construction costs.
Carney's conviction for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud came after a thorough investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti's announcement, it led United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to impose the sentence on Tuesday. In a formal statement, Rivetti commended the investigative efforts that brought Carney to justice.
While Carney has already faced sentencing, his co-conspirator Jonathan Freeze awaits his date with the legal system, scheduled to be sentenced in May 2025 for his role in the scheme, both Irey and Freeze previously pled guilty to the same charges as Carney, Robert Irey, has passed away before sentencing hence the case against him concluded with his death but his memory remains stained by the fraudulent pursuits, leaving a trail of financial deception in his wake.
