Great Comic Investment Actually a $4M Ponzi Scheme

Chicago - Investors in a comic book and movie retail operation were actually victims of a $4 million Ponzi scheme run by two west suburban men, according to the FBI.

Christopher R. Andersen, 54, of 520 Hamilton Ave. in Westmont, was arrested Friday at his home, according to the FBI. His alleged accomplice, Daniel J. Parrilli, 59, of 502 Yardley Dr. in Carol Stream, was arrested early Monday.

They allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme which defrauded more than 100 investors out of more than $4 million, according to a release from the FBI. Both are charged in a criminal complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of wire fraud.

According to the complaint, the pair operated Sundown Entertainment Inc., a Westmont-based business which purported to be involved in the buying, selling and producing of films, comics and other intellectual property, the release said.

Beginning in 2006 and continuing until their arrests, Andersen and Parilli sold promissory notes to investors based on the revenues the intellectual property was expected to generate, the complaint states. The notes carried a return of 25 percent to 100 percent over periods as short as seven days.

The complaint also alleges Andersen and Parilli made false statements to potential investors, including the expected return on the investment, the status of the business transactions and the source of the funds used to re-pay investors.

Andersen appeared Friday before Magistrate Judge Susan Cox and was released on bond, the release said. Parilli appeared Monday before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole and was ordered held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center without bond until his next court hearing at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.

If convicted, the men face up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines each.