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Delray Beach Man Sentenced For Ponzi Scam

WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) - A 37-year old Delray Beach man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in a Ponzi scheme which duped hundreds of Haitian American investors in South Florida and New Jersey out of more than $14 million.

U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Marra also ordered Ronnie Bass Jr. to pay nearly $4 million in restitution. Victims of the scam who invested with the Homepals Investment Club fear they may never see their money.

Bass' attorney had argued that his client should be sentenced to 10 years in prison since two others involved in the scheme received 5-year sentences.  But prosecutors countered that the others had cooperated with investigators.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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