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'''World Plus''' was an airline ticket brokerage operated by one '''RaeJean S. Bonham''' |
'''World Plus''' was an airline ticket brokerage operated by one '''RaeJean S. Bonham''' and based in [[Fairbanks]], [[Alaska]].<ref name="ap1"> {{cite news | url = http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/120498/worldplus.html | title = World Plus owner may get more time | last = Clarke | first = Jim | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date = [[December 4]], [[1998]] | accessdate = 2008-10-25}}</ref> The World Plus business model has been described as a [[Ponzi scheme]], and as the largest [[investment scam]] in Alaska's history.<ref name="adn1">{{cite news | url = http://www.adn.com/crime/story/252152.html | title = Checks end Alaska's top investment scam | last = Loy | first = Wesley | work = [[Anchorage Daily News]] | date = [[January 2]], [[2008]] | accessdate = 2008-10-25 }}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Born RaeJean Franklin in 1950, she and her husband Steve Bonham moved to rural Alaska in the early 1970s. RaeJean served as the [[postmaster]] of [[Chatanika, Alaska|Chatanika]], a small town north of Fairbanks, until 1977 when she was convicted of [[embezzlement]] and [[money order]] fraud.<ref name="adn1"/> |
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She moved to Fairbanks and founded World Plus, Inc. in 1983. |
She moved to Fairbanks and founded World Plus, Inc. in 1983. |
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In 1998, Bonham pled guilty to federal charges of [[mail fraud]] and [[money laundering]].<ref name="ap2">{{cite news | url = http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/062501/Loc_Scam.html | title = Court OKs charges for World Plus scam | last = Clark | first = Maureen | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date = [[June 25]], [[2001]] | accessdate = 2008-10-25 }}</ref> |
In ''United States v. Bonham'' (1998), Bonham pled guilty to federal charges of [[mail fraud]] and [[money laundering]].<ref>http://www.iciclesoftware.com/worldplus/Criminal/WPUSPleaAgrt.html<ref name="ap2">{{cite news | url = http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/062501/Loc_Scam.html | title = Court OKs charges for World Plus scam | last = Clark | first = Maureen | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | date = [[June 25]], [[2001]] | accessdate = 2008-10-25 }}</ref> For these, she was sentenced in 1999 to two concurrent sentences of five years. Later, the State of Alaska filed additional charges of [[perjury]] and [[securities fraud]]. Bonham successfully argued that these should be dismissed on the basis of [[double jeopardy]], but this decision was appealed by the State and overturned in 2001.<ref name="ap1749">{{cite court | litigants = State v. Bonham |opinion= ap-1749 | pinpoint= |court= Court of Appeals of the State of Alaska |date= [[June 22]], [[2001]] |url= http://touchngo.com/ap/html/ap-1749.htm }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:57, 25 October 2008
World Plus was an airline ticket brokerage operated by one RaeJean S. Bonham and based in Fairbanks, Alaska.[1] The World Plus business model has been described as a Ponzi scheme, and as the largest investment scam in Alaska's history.[2]
History
Born RaeJean Franklin in 1950, she and her husband Steve Bonham moved to rural Alaska in the early 1970s. RaeJean served as the postmaster of Chatanika, a small town north of Fairbanks, until 1977 when she was convicted of embezzlement and money order fraud.[2]
She moved to Fairbanks and founded World Plus, Inc. in 1983.
In United States v. Bonham (1998), Bonham pled guilty to federal charges of mail fraud and money laundering.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). For these, she was sentenced in 1999 to two concurrent sentences of five years. Later, the State of Alaska filed additional charges of perjury and securities fraud. Bonham successfully argued that these should be dismissed on the basis of double jeopardy, but this decision was appealed by the State and overturned in 2001.[3]
References
- ^ Clarke, Jim (December 4, 1998). "World Plus owner may get more time". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Loy, Wesley (January 2, 2008). "Checks end Alaska's top investment scam". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ State v. Bonham, ap-1749 (Court of Appeals of the State of Alaska June 22, 2001).