The Office of Statewide Prosecution, under Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, has secured a conviction against Bernard Joseph McBride, Jr., the mastermind behind a fraudulent investment scheme that swindled victims, many of them seniors, out of more than $575,000.
McBride had falsely claimed his company, Tutela Mining, Inc., owned and operated a gold mine in California, luring investors with promises of guaranteed returns in gold or cash.
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According to Attorney General James Uthmeier, “My office is ensuring that criminals can’t get away with defrauding Florida’s seniors. Thanks to Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Jonathan Bridges and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Joshua Dockus, working with our law enforcement partners, we ensured this con man stays behind bars.”
The investigation revealed that McBride and his co-conspirators preyed on senior victims, convincing them to empty their retirement accounts for these sham investments.
Bank records and testimony presented during the trial definitively showed that McBride never owned or operated a gold mine. Instead, the substantial funds collected from victims were funneled directly to McBride and his family members, who were paid for “no-show” jobs within the fraudulent company. McBride also shamelessly diverted victim funds for personal expenses, including paying for his stepdaughter’s wedding.
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McBride was found guilty on one count of grand theft over $100,000 and two counts of grand theft over $20,000 but less than $100,000. He now faces a potential sentence of up to 60 years in state prison for his crimes.
The successful prosecution was the result of a collaborative investigation conducted by the Office of Financial Regulation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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