Alaska Woman Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for $5 Million Ponzi Scheme

An Anchorage woman received a seven-year sentence for masterminding a Ponzi scheme that lasted over a decade and bilked investors out of over $5 million.  Samantha Delay-Wilson, 65, received the sentence from United States District Court Judge Russell Holland, who noted the "amazing length" of the scheme and the devastating effect on some of Delay-Wilson's investors in handing down the sentence.  The sentence comes after Delay-Wilson was convicted of various state court charges relating to the fraud and sentenced in April to five years in state prison.  The sentences will be served consecutively, rather than concurrently, which will prevent Delay-Wilson from receiving credit towards both sentences simultaneously.

Delay-Wilson pleaded guilty in February to using her two companies, Nona Oma Investments and Money Source`s Alaska, to solicit prospective investors by guaranteeing high rates of annual return exceeding ten percent through a variety of investments including a global investment fund, European sub-prime loans, and an investment banking service company.  During the scheme, which took place from 1996 to 2004, Delay-Wilson made false representations to investors concerning her experience and background, and provided fictitious documents concerning her purported investments.  Yet, instead of making these investments, Delay-Wilson instead commingled investor funds and used them for her personal expenses, to make Ponzi-style interest payments, and fund a lavish lifestyle that included the purchase of a $150,000 diamond ring for herself. 

Delay-Wilson will also be required to repay investors through an order of restitution to be determined at a later date.