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A Columbia man was arrested on suspicion of running a cryptocurrency investment scheme, according to an online arrest report.
Charles Spencer Burri was arrested Wednesday after he was charged earlier this month with financial exploitation of an elder and stealing $750 or more, court records show.
Prior to his arrest, the Columbia Police Department made a Facebook post Wednesday asking for the public’s help in finding Burri and any other people who believe they have been involved in a similar scam.
A probable cause statement alleges that Burri, who owns and operates Burri Asset Management, told a 71-year-old woman that he would give her returns on a $15,000 investment she made with Burri Asset Management in July.
The woman told police that Burri offered her returns on cryptocurrency investment and that she later asked for her money back, according to the statement. She told police that Burri initially said he would give her money back but then stopped responding to her, according to the statement.
A subpoena of Burri’s bank account showed a deposit of $10,000 the day after the woman made the investment, according to the probable cause statement.
Colin Imhoff, a spokesperson for the Police Department, told KOMU 8 that the point of the Facebook post was to bring awareness and hopefully get victims to come forward.
He said the department believes there could be about 10 additional victims.
Burri was released on a $10,000 bond, according to the arrest report.
The Police Department asked anyone with information to call 573-874-7652. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 573-875-8477 or visiting p3tips.com/899.