Man gets prison for Ponzi scheme

BOZEMAN (AP) — A Belgrade man who was convicted of running an investment scam that prosecutors say took in $5.38 million from at least 140 investors in 20 states has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

District Judge Holly Brown sentenced 53-year-old Richard Reynolds on Thursday to 60 years in prison with 40 suspended and ordered him to pay nearly $4.46 million in restitution.

Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert says Reynolds was given credit for more than 700 days he spent in jail or on house arrest.

Reynolds was convicted in December of six felonies including running a Ponzi scheme. His defense attorney argued that state investigators froze Reynolds’ assets before the investors’ money could reach its full potential.

Prosecutors said Reynolds and his wife diverted more than $4.3 million for their own use.