Robert Miller, a former enforcement lawyer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, confessed himself guilty of illegal actions. He admitted that he impersonated two people to help confessed Ponzi scheme operator Marc Dreier defraud hedge funds. Miller pleaded guilty in the Manhattan federal court on Monday that he took part in the attempted sale of a $44.7 million fictitious promissory note to two hedge funds but he impersonated other people. First he pretended to be a representative of the Canadian pension plan and later a representative of an Icelandic hedge fund.
Miller admitted guilty to one count each of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. That incident reminded again about Dreier's nearly $400 million Ponzi scheme, which led to collapse of the law firm by his name took place last December. Dreier was sentenced to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in July after he pleaded guilty to the fraud.
In November 2008 Dreier provided Miller with a cell phone with a Canadian dialing code and gave him the instructions to impersonate a representative of the Canadian pension plan, according to the accuser’s statement. Later that month, when the deal failed, Dreier made Miller to call again and provided a detailed script.
Miller said that he deeply regretted his deeds. Miller said in court that he was paid $100,000.
Miller was ordered released on a $100,000 bond. A sentencing date has not yet been set.