JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville man faces 80 years in prison after he was found guilty of running a investment scam then tried to hire a hitman to kill the whistleblower.
Paul S. Kruse, 59, of Jacksonville was found guilty on Tuesday of conspiracy, wire fraud, attempting to murder a government witness, and murder-for-hire.
Kruse faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy conviction, 20 years for each wire fraud conviction, 30 years for attempting to kill a government witness, and 10 years for his murder-for-hire plot.
Kruse's sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 19.
Kruse and his brother conspired to recruit and defraud a number of clients to whom they provided financial advisory services. The FBI says 59-year-old Paul Kruse ran Yorkshire Financial Services since 2010.
They say he convinced clients to move their IRAs to his company -- money that he spent on fancy cars, home improvements, and cash withdrawals.
One of his assistants went to the FBI and revealed his crimes.
While in prison, Kruse tried to have her killed but didn't know that he was talking to federal agents instead of hitmen.
