Frank Amodeo
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Frank Amodeo is an American businessman and former lawyer. He was the founder and leader of Mirabilis Ventures Inc. In 2009, he was sent to federal prison for 22 years for tax fraud linked to the company.[1] He is now a criminal justice reform activist.[2]
Career
Amodeo worked as a bankruptcy lawyer in Florida until 1994, when he lost his law license for wrongly using a client's money.[3] In 2005, he started the investment company Mirabilis Ventures Inc. The company grew to include more than 60 companies with reported total income of over $1 billion each year.[4] The company bought the unfinished Trump Tower Tampa project in 2006,[5] and worked on international projects, such as providing security for a candidate during the 2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election.[6]
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Amodeo spoke of plans to build a global group called the "Terran Empire" and said he wanted "world domination."[7] UPI also reported on his "big plans" for himself and the company.[8]
Conviction
U.S. authorities investigated Mirabilis Ventures and Amodeo for not paying payroll taxes. Prosecutors said they avoided about $200 million in taxes by using many shell companies.[9][10] In 2009, Amodeo pleaded guilty to tax fraud and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.[1] The company went bankrupt in 2010.[11]
When he appealed, Amodeo said his actions were affected by his bipolar disorder and that another worker was mainly responsible for the tax crimes.[12] The appeals were not successful.
Later life
While in prison, Amodeo began working on issues about prison conditions and justice reform.[2] He has said he was treated unfairly and has helped other prisoners, including Matthew Cox.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Frank L. Amodeo sentenced to 22 years behind bars". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cox, Matthew B. (2020-10-01). It's Insanity: The Bizarre Story of a Bipolar Megalomaniac's Insane Plan for Total World Domination. Independently published. ISBN 979-8-6837-9616-7. Search this book on
- ↑ "Congo drama unveils enigma - Orlando Sentinel". Orlando Sentinel. 2021-07-08. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-16. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Press Room :: Dynetech, Inc. :: Your Unique Vision, Our Unique Process". www.dynetech.com. Archived from the original on
|archive-url=requires|archive-date=(help). Retrieved 2025-11-04. Unknown parameter|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Mirabilis Buys Trump Tower Tampa". GlobeSt. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ↑ "Mirabilis equity firm faltering". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ "Secret life of a tycoon wannabe". Orlando Sentinel. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ↑ "Venture capitalist had grandiose plans - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ↑ "In re Mirabilis Ventures, Inc., Case No. 6:09-cv-271-Orl-31 DAB | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved 2023-11-09.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ By (2010-07-01). "Ex-CEO Amodeo in prison — but IRS still after Mirabilis in payroll-tax fraud". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ↑ "Mirabilis winds down operations, Presidion defunct / Daily News / Editorial / Home - Staffing Industry Analysts". www2.staffingindustry.com. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ↑ "Ex-Businessman Argues Mental Illness Should Void Fraud Sentence". www.courthousenews.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
