NYC Investment Fund Chief Charged With $9M Theft

A New York City investment fund manager has been charged with siphoning $9.3 million to pay for a car, his credit card payments and other personal expenses.

Lawrence E. Penn III pleaded not guilty Monday to grand larceny and other charges.

Penn manages a private equity fund called Camelot Acquisitions: Secondary Opportunities LP.

Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. says Penn had the fund pay a shell company supposedly to do due diligence reviews but then had the money funneled back into his control.

The federal Securities and Exchange Commission made similar allegations in a civil suit last month.

Defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman says Penn will address the allegations "in a responsible and timely manner." Brafman says the allegations don't affect fund assets now held in custody.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us