Washington Man Charged in $2.7-million Alaska Fraud Case

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested a Washington state man suspected of defrauding Alaskans by promising to share a pharmaceutical settlement if they helped pay his medical expenses.

Federal prosecutors in Anchorage say 55-year-old Floyd Mann, Jr. of Puyallup bilked Alaskans out of $2.7 million and used it to gamble.

He is charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and eight counts of money laundering.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aunnie Steward says Mann told victims he would receive a multi-million dollar settlement from a class-action lawsuit.

He promised a substantial return from the settlement if victims paid his medical bills and other expenses related to the fictitious lawsuit.

He used money from victims to win more than $1 million at a casino.

Directory assistance did not list a phone number for Mann.