United States v. Lee Bentley Farkas - Updates

Pending Criminal Division Cases

United States v. Lee Bentley Farkas
Court Docket Number: 1:10-cr-200 (E.D. Virginia)

Case Updates

Court Assigned: This case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, at Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse, 401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

Update – November 10, 2020: On August 20, 2020, defendant Farkas filed a motion for compassionate release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 15, 2020, the court granted Farkas’ motion and ordered his release from prison pending a 14-day quarantine, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

June 2, 2017: On May 5, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of Farkas’s motion to forfeit direct proceeds of crime or substitute assets and his motion for reconsideration, finding no reversible error. The court also denied Farkas’s emergency motion for issuance of a temporary restraining order.

Farkas appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

On October 4, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment.

Farkas appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

On September 27, 2011, following a restitution hearing, Judge Brinkema entered a series of judgments and orders directing Farkas and his six co-conspirators to pay, jointly and severally, a total of approximately $3.5 billion in restitution.

On June 28, 2011, Farkas was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $38,541,209.69.

On April 19, 2011, after a 10-day trial, a federal jury in the Eastern District of Virginia found Farkas guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank, wire and securities fraud; six counts of bank fraud; four counts of wire fraud; and three counts of securities fraud.

Lee Bentley Farkas was arraigned on July 2, 2010, by Judge Brinkema, and was released on bond.

For information about the charges in this case, please click here.

Because of the court’s schedule, hearing dates could change on very short notice. If you plan on attending, you may want to contact the Victim Assistance Line toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or email us at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov.