Feds: Developers cheated investors in Ponzi scheme

CHICAGO — A former securities broker and his partner in a northern Illinois real estate business are facing federal charges accusing them of running a Ponzi-like scheme and cheating investors out of millions.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment this week charging the two men with wire fraud.

One of the suspects, Marcin Malarz, is a fugitive and believed to be living in Poland. The 48-year-old had lived in Lake Forest and managed Malarz Equity Investments LLC, a business that converted apartments into condominiums.

Thirty-nine-year-old Arthur Lin of Palatine is accused of recruiting his securities firm's clients to invest in the business.

Prosecutors accuse them of fraudulently raising $9 million and misappropriating much of it.

There is no public phone listing for Lin and he could not be reached for comment.