Oklahoma man gets nearly 22 years for $60M film finance fraud scheme

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — An Oklahoma man claiming to be a film financier has been sentenced in Florida to nearly 22 years in federal prison for participating in a scheme to steal more than $60 million from investors and producers seeking financing for movies and Broadway shows.

Court records show that Jason Van Eman was sentenced on Thursday in Fort Lauderdale federal court. A jury found him guilty in May of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Prosecutors say Van Eman and a co-defendant offered to help investors and producers fund motion pictures, theater performances, and other projects, but instead stole the victims’ money.