Man faces up to 25 years in prison, accused of collecting funds to help with fake sale of company [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Knoxville man is facing up to 25 years in prison after he was indicted of collecting money after falsely telling people that he needed help paying for legal fees associated with the sale of a company to an investment firm. 

The Department of Justice said Kenneth Francis Lee, 53, was indicted for wire fraud, money laundering and tax offenses. It also said Susan Amie Lee, 54, is accused of helping him with the scheme and faces money laundering offenses.

According to prosecutors, Kenneth executed the scheme from March 2019 through August 2024. He is accused of defrauding investors and getting money by saying he was in litigation to sell a company to an investment firm but needed help paying for legal …