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West Hills man posing as royal faces federal fraud charges after allegedly using money to buy luxury cars and thrones
Another 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Sedanca de Ville, a car federal prosecutors say a man facing federal wire fraud charges purchased with funds from investors.
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Alamy Stock Photo
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www.alamy.com
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A West Hills man is expected to plead guilty to a federal wire fraud charge for bilking clients out of nearly $6 million using a Ponzi scheme, according to federal prosecutors.
What was the scheme?
Department of Justice officials said Tuesday that Sylvein William Maximilian D’Habsburg XVII (not his birth name, more on that in a moment) told potential investors he had AI technology that could predict the future and detect a COVID-19 infection “based solely on a video recording.”
D’Habsburg allegedly targeted the local Filipino community, including elderly church parishioners.
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Authorities also allege he falsely claimed to investors that he already had about a half billion dollars in investment funds, dropping names like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Steve Wozniak.
D’Habsburg said he would use those funds and new investments to “hire personnel and obtain patents,” according to the Justice Department news release.
What did he do with the money?
The DOJ allege he used the $5.9 million raised fraudulently to buy luxury cars like a 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom and rare antiques like a pair of Italian carved Giltwood Thrones from the 1800s.
The Habsburg family circa 1765. Authorities said Sylvein William Maximilian D’Habsburg XVII changed his name and is no relation.
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Public domain
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Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Bilddatenbank
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Was he descended from royalty?
No, LAist confirmed with federal officials that D’Habsburg, aka “Sylvein Scalleone,” has no relation to the House of Habsburg in Austria, one of Europe’s most prominent dynasties.
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What do we know about the plea?
D’Habsburg is expected to enter a guilty plea in the coming weeks at a federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, and could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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