Federal prosecutors in New York charged a Greenwich couple with bilking four investors of $1.5 million for their personal use.
Philippe and Milana Murcia were arrested Jan. 8, and charged with fraudulently soliciting investments in Regenat USA Holding Corp. A judge set bail at $200,000.
Philippe Murcia did not respond to requests for comment.
According to prosecutors, the Murcias falsely claimed Sodexho International awarded Regenat a $2.5 million contract to build water treatment stations in Sudan, and that Regenat was preparing an initial public offering of stock.
Prosecutors claim the Murcias funneled $250,000 into their bank account, devoted $140,000 to rent payments, and spent $9,000 on a birthday party at a restaurant in Tarrytown, N.Y. The couple returned $1 million to investors, authorities added.
Philippe Murcia holds four U.S. patents for various environmental technologies and has applications on file for several more.
