Local businessman indicted on 7 counts in federal court

3/14/2014

A Holland man was indicted this week in U.S. District Court on charges he fraudulently obtained a $500,000 consultant’s fee by claiming he could deliver several interest-only government bonds to a group of investors.

Mark O. Wittenmyer, 54, was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and five counts of money laundering.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Wittenmyer falsely told the investors he could recruit institutional buyers for the bonds that would pay the group a substantial premium.

While the indictment makes reference to “ARH,” identified as a Realtor from Holland, Arvel Ray Henderson was not indicted in the case. He and Mr. Wittenmyer were both charged in federal court Feb. 18 with one count of money laundering for the same offense outlined in the indictment.

Mr. Wittenmyer allegedly had the $500,000 fee wired to an account belonging to “ARH,” and the two men spent the funds, the indictment states.