Ex-resident of Las Vegas accused in securities fraud case

A former Las Vegas resident has been indicted in a securities fraud case involving investments in bogus charities.

Mark Jones, 43, was indicted on multiple felony charges including one count each of securities fraud, offering to sell an unregistered security, transacting business as an unlicensed broker-dealer and theft of property valued at more than $2,500, state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto's office said Wednesday. The charges carry a possible prison sentence of one to 20 years.

The indictment alleges Jones in June 2004 offered an unregistered investment opportunity to a Nevada resident through a company known as Eaglefinger Enterprises. Masto's office said Jones told the victim that Eaglefinger was involved in projects to support American Indians, battered women and abused children. 

The indictment accuses Jones of falsely claiming that he had financial backers and that Eaglefinger was subsidized by the U.S. government, which would insure the victim's investment. The victim invested $130,000 to buy the stock on or about June 23, 2004.

Jones was recently arrested in Colorado and is scheduled to appear in Las Vegas for arraignment in April.