Michigan men plead not guilty to Lincolnshire investment scheme

A father and son from East Pointe, Mich., pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the theft of about $73,000 in an investment scam.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Donn Coppens, 55, and his son, Adam Coppens, 27, both face up to 15 years if convicted.

Stanton said the pair set up an investment firm called World Financial Access in an office in Lincolnshire and promised clients regular dividend checks in return for investments.

When a man in Milwaukee complained to police he had not received any dividends and could not contact officials of World Financial Access, Lincolnshire police began investigating.

They traced the operation to the Coppens, Stanton said, and found at least 13 victims had lost around $73,000 to the company between November and April.

The victims lost some of the money when the Coppens' used the information on the checks they sent in to take other funds from their bank accounts.

The pair is charged with aggravated identity theft, money laundering and mail fraud, Stanton said.

Donn Coppens is held on $750,000 bond and his son is held on $500,000 bond.

Both are due to appear in court June 12.