Illinois Ponzi Scheme Couple Caught After 12 Years On The Run
Nelson Grant Hallhan, 65, and wife Janet Hallahan, 54, were arrested in a small Arizona town after being featured on America’s Most Wanted. The couple had been on the run for 12 years when they were found guilty of running a ponzi scheme that targeted friends, family and most often elderly people.
The couple ran their scam by looking through the obituaries and finding elderly people who had been left with insurance money after the death of their loved ones. The couple would approach those individuals, promise them high returns on their money and then take them for everything they were worth.
Since losing the millions of dollars they had stolen Nelson worked as a handyman while Janet cleaned houses for a living to help make ends meet.
According to the US Marshals Service the couple had lived in various Southwestern states over the last 12 years and they used several aliases during that time.
After hearing about the couple’s arrest a former 63-year-old friend who lost $15,000 in their scam said:
“I’m just glad that they’ve been found. We may or may not see our money, but at least I feel like there’s a little bit of restitution.”
After buying yachts, luxury vehicles, designer clothes and jewelry the couple disappeared with $1.2 million owed to investors. ‘
The Feds said they were happy to finally capture the couple they called the “Mini Madoffs.” As a Federal employee commented, the couple were the worst kind of criminal because they stole from friends and family members in pursuit of their greed.
