Anthony Gignac led a sophisticated fraud scheme: he posed as the prince of saudi arabia and stole more than 8 million dollars. Held for more than 30 years this false identity as a member of royalty to manipulate, deceive and defraud dozens of investors and organizations around the world.
But his criminal life full of luxury cars, exclusive jewelry and millions of dollars in his bank account came to an end in 2019. Learn the story of Anthony Gignac, known as Khalid Bin Al-Saud, the “future sultan”.
Who is Anthony Gignac or “Khalid Bin Al-Saud”?
Anthony Gignac was born in Colombia and He was adopted by a family from MichiganUnited States, when he was seven years old. The first record of using a false identity was at the age of twelve, when he claimed to be the son of a Saudi prince, and thus, he convinced the salesman of a car dealership to let him test drive a vehicle.
From the age of 17, he began using the image of a Saudi or Middle Eastern royal to scam credit card companies, banks, merchants and investors. bringing it to be arrested 11 times. In 1991, LA Times he nicknamed him “Prince of Fraud” after being caught racking up hotel and limousine bills, promising to be covered by members of the royal family. His sentence was two years in prison.
And in May 2015began using the name Khalid Bin Al-Saud. To support his lie and identity as a “sultan”, he bought fake diplomatic plates and papers for himself and his bodyguards, dressed in traditional Saudi clothing, wore exclusive rings and watches, collected works of art and traveled in private jets, yachts and cars. luxury.
On her social networks, where she was as @princedubai_07, she even posted photos with royals with titles like “family.”
The end of the imposter
During the first months of 2017Anthony Gignac, better known as Khalid Bin Al-Saud, contacted a billionaire owner to buy a stake in the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Florida.
But in May of that year, his plan fell apart for a detail that the impostor did not take into account. The businessman with whom he was contacting to do business, at first, believed in Gignac’s false identity but after a dinner in which the “prince” ordered porkhe began to suspect.
Pork products are prohibited for Muslims, since, according to the holy book for this religion (the Koran), eating this animal and/or its derivatives is an impure act.
Thus, the billionaire businessman hired a private security company to investigate him, leading to the discovery of his true identity and, subsequently, his arrest.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, the federal prosecutor in charge of the case, said: “Over the course of the last three decades, Anthony Gignac has presented himself as a Saudi prince to manipulate, victimize and defraud countless investors worldwide.” .
With his false identity, he convinced people to invest in non-existent commercial companies that he claimed to have in different parts of the world. Investigators say the losses are around $8 million.
And at the beginning of 2019Anthony Gignac was found guilty of the crimes of wire fraud, conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Being sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Source: Ambito
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