Prime Capital Ventures CEO Kris Roglieri sentenced to nearly eight years in federal prison for multimillion dollar wire fraud conspiracy

Albany, New York – A federal court has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to the former head of a commercial lending company whose operation unraveled amid allegations of a sweeping fraud scheme that pulled in tens of millions of dollars from clients across the United States.

Kris Roglieri, a 46-year-old resident of Queensbury, New York, was sentenced to 97 months behind bars for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy tied to the rise and collapse of Prime Capital Ventures LLC, a company he operated and promoted as a major commercial lending business.

The sentencing took place in federal court in Albany, where authorities said Roglieri’s company falsely presented itself as a powerful financial intermediary capable of securing large commercial loans through outside funding arrangements. Instead, according to prosecutors, the company’s operations revolved around misleading clients into paying large sums of money for financing that never materialized.

The case was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office.

Court documents show that between mid-2022 and January 2024, Roglieri worked with others to convince clients that Prime Capital could arrange massive commercial loans through third-party lenders. Businesses seeking financing were instructed to send substantial upfront payments, which were described as necessary steps to secure funding.

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Those payments, clients were told, would either lead to finalized loans or be refunded if the deals fell through.

But according to the admissions Roglieri made as part of his guilty plea, that promise was largely an illusion.

Prosecutors said the payments—totaling tens of millions of dollars—were never held securely for their intended purpose. Instead, the funds were diverted in ways that allowed the scheme to keep operating while also financing a lavish personal lifestyle.

Authorities said Roglieri used incoming money from new clients to repay or placate earlier clients, a tactic often seen in fraudulent financial schemes. At the same time, investigators found he spent heavily on luxury items and extravagant travel.

Among the purchases funded by the scheme were private jet trips, high-end jewelry, and a collection of luxury vehicles from brands including Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Maserati.

Federal prosecutors said those purchases were financed directly with money obtained from victims who believed their payments were helping unlock major financing opportunities for their businesses.

The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, who also ordered additional penalties beyond the prison term.

In addition to the nearly eight-year sentence, Roglieri will face three years of supervised release once he completes his time in prison. The court also ordered him to forfeit a staggering $55,484,674.84 money judgment tied to the fraud scheme.

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The forfeiture order includes an extensive list of assets authorities say were obtained using illicit funds. Among them are twelve vehicles, eight watches, a luxury mansion in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and other property connected to the fraudulent operation.

The final restitution amount owed to victims will be determined later, according to court officials.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone emphasized the scale of the deception and the financial harm inflicted on businesses that trusted Roglieri with their money.

“Kris Roglieri callously deceived victims all over the country into trusting him with tens of millions of dollars under the false pretenses that he would secure funding for their projects. Instead of keeping that money safe and delivering on that funding, Roglieri turned around and spent it on exotic cars, rare watches, and private jet travel. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI and members of my office, Roglieri will forfeit those ill-gotten gains, swap his luxury suits for a jumpsuit, and get on the fast track to federal prison.”

Investigators say the case reflects the type of complex financial fraud the FBI frequently pursues, particularly when it targets businesses or investors seeking legitimate financing.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli said the investigation aimed to restore accountability and demonstrate that such schemes will not go unanswered.

“Today’s sentence ensures Mr. Roglieri will not just forfeit his luxury belongings and lifestyle, but also his freedom. The FBI was committed to investigating this case to bring justice to the victims he brazenly stole from to build his wildly extravagant lifestyle. This case should send a strong message that the FBI is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who uses illegal means to take advantage of hardworking Americans.”

The investigation also uncovered the involvement of additional participants in the scheme.

Two individuals connected to the case have already entered guilty pleas for their roles in the conspiracy: Kimberly Owen—also known as Kimberly “Kimmy” Humphrey—and her brother Christopher Snyder, both residents of Virginia Beach.

Prosecutors said Owen and Snyder admitted to working alongside Roglieri to defraud clients who believed Prime Capital would deliver commercial loans.

Their sentencing hearings are still ahead. Snyder is scheduled to appear in court on April 16, 2026, while Owen’s sentencing is set for May 28, 2026.

Federal authorities say the investigation required extensive financial analysis and coordination between investigators and prosecutors. The case was handled by the Albany Field Office of the FBI, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal.

For many of the victims, the case represents the collapse of promised financial opportunities that never came to fruition. Prosecutors say the court’s orders—particularly the forfeiture and upcoming restitution—are intended to help recover at least part of the money lost in the scheme.

While the legal proceedings continue for Roglieri’s co-conspirators, federal officials say the sentence marks a major step in closing a case that exposed how a seemingly legitimate lending operation transformed into a multimillion-dollar fraud.