Federal agents, in collaboration with Irving Police Officers, apprehended three individuals in the 2000 block of Primrose Dr in the Hackberry Creek area near Bush Tpke and I-635. The arrested individuals have been identified as husband and wife, 71-year-old Charles "Chuck" Brooks, 67-year-old Marina Brooks (Alvarez maiden name), and their 35-year-old daughter Crystal Brooks. All three were held in the Irving Jail for several days.
On December 14, 2023, the trio was named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The accusations stem from their alleged involvement in a large-scale investment fraud scheme targeting individuals within the Mexican-American community. According to the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators purportedly solicited investments for various schemes, including concert series and cryptocurrency-related projects. Utilizing marketing seminars, radio advertisements, and in-person meetings, the defendants allegedly misrepresented these opportunities, promising significant returns compared to market standards.
However, it is alleged that the defendants and their co-conspirators diverted victim investor funds to other business and personal accounts, withdrew commissions and cash, and ultimately lost over 95% of the funds obtained from at least 100 victim investors. The fraudulent scheme reportedly netted the defendants at least $9.5 million.
If convicted, each defendant faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. The case is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
