Financial adviser admits to $9M sham that funded his gambling and international travel

A New Jersey-based financial adviser has admitted operating a scheme that defrauded investors of more than $9 million. Sixty-nine-year-old Maxwell Smith of Fair Haven pleaded guilty Tuesday to a five-count criminal information charging him with mail fraud. Smith will remain free on bail pending sentencing on Feb. 26. He faces up to 20 years in prison per count and a $250,000 fine, although the actual sentence could be far less under federal sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors say Smith created a sham investment fund, promising clients tax-free returns of up to 9 percent annually. Instead of investing the funds, Smith admitted using the money for personal expenses, including gambling and international travel.