An accused swindler facing federal fraud charges for allegedly bilking $900,000 from investors in a brazen boiler-room scheme skipped out on his trial as the case was about to go to the jury yesterday.
A judge issued a bench warrant for Thomas Qualls, 39, after he failed to show up in Brooklyn federal court on the day that closing arguments were scheduled.
Facing a maximum sentence of 20 years, Qualls disappeared on Sunday, according to his lawyer, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma.
“I’m worried about him, and his family is beside themselves with worry,” the lawyer said outside of court.
Charged with wire fraud, mail fraud and obstruction of justice, Qualls was free on $200,000 bail.
Prosecutors said employees of his company cold-called victims and convinced them to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars by promising returns of as much as 25 percent on foreign-currency investments.
Qualls allegedly used their money for adult-entertainment products, Caribbean vacations and jewelry for his wife.