Stock swindler sentenced to prison on incest charge
A convicted Las Vegas stock swindler who bilked millions out of investors and then became a federal informant was sentenced Monday to prison on a charge related to incest involving several of his eight children.
Peter Berney, 64, pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to attempted lewdness with a child under the age of 14.
On Monday, District Judge David Barker sentenced him to 57 months to 12 years in prison. Berney must register as a sex offender when he is released.
Between 2001 and 2007, according to court records, Berney reportedly engaged several of his children in lewd acts. At that time, he was working closely with FBI and IRS agents, as well as the U.S. attorney's office, to unravel a complicated securities scam.
The federal case revolved around a complicated stock swindle that Berney orchestrated between 1990 and 1999.
In December 2001 he cut a deal, pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, and impeding and impairing the IRS. Berney was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, and he forfeited $21 million in property and cash.
As part of the deal, Berney assisted prosecutors and investigators through 2007, leading to the conviction of five co-conspirators.
Court documents show that Las Vegas police learned of the incestuous relationship in September 2008, while Berney was in prison in the federal case.
