St. Pete man indicted in $1.8 million investment scheme
June 12, 2021 - A St. Petersburg man accused in a ticket scam faces federal wire fraud charges. Thomas Coelho, formerly Thomas Jurewicz, recruited investors for a business opportunity but used the investors' money for his own expenses, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Coelho purportedly told investors he would buy event tickets and resell them to third parties for a profit, using his association with the entertainment industry to give the impression that he would get tickets to high-profile events. But instead of buying tickets, he primarily used the funds for personal expenses, entertainment and cash withdrawals, the news release said, citing a recently unsealed federal indictment. If convicted he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each county. The Justice Department also is seeking a money judgment of about $1.8 million, the proceeds of the scheme.