Ohio man sentenced in $17M Amish fraud case

Federal investigators said Monroe L. Beachy, 78, promised investors safe securities but moved their money to riskier investments.

U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson rejected his request to allow him to serve his 6 1/2-year sentence at home and instead ordered that Beachy be sent to prison. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of at least 12 years.

Beachy, who is a member of an Amish church near Sugarcreek, about 60 miles south of Cleveland, pleaded guilty in March to mail fraud. He operated an investment business that filed for bankruptcy protection two years ago.

About 2,700 people and entities, including an Amish community loan fund, lost about $16.8 million over the past six years, the government said.

"This was fraud on a massive scale," said U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach. "This defendant took advantage of people's trust in him and squandered the life savings of hundreds upon hundreds of families."

Beachy had faced up to a maximum 20-year sentence, but federal sentencing guidelines called for a short sentence.