The feds brought down the curtain today on an alleged fraud scheme by the owner of the Brooklyn Heights Cinema.
Norman Adie was busted for allegedly pocketing $530,000 he said would finance development plans that included turning the beloved two-screen movie house into condos.
Adie, 53, promised three unidentified victims returns as high as 13.5 percent, but made only several payments to two of them after they handed over their cash in 2007, court papers charge.
And instead of investing the dough as promised, Adie used most of it for “personal purposes,” according to a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court.
In addition to his purported proposal to build condos at 70 Henry St., the Manhattan resident floated plans to convert a shopping mall in Matamoras, Penn., into a modern, multi-plex cinema.
Although Adie leased the site in April 2007, that project fell apart by early 2009 and he was “banned from the property.”
According to a published report, the Scottish-born businessman was hit with a $12.7 million judgment over the failed renovation.
Adie, who faces up to 80 years in the slammer for securities and wire fraud, was released on $350,000 bond pending a Dec. 23 court date.
At the Brooklyn Heights Cinema — which tonight is showing the aptly titled Hillary Swank thriller “Conviction” — manager Amy Mascena said she unaware of Adie’s arrest and hung up the phone.
Defense lawyer Martin Cohen also declined to comment.