Former Derby County takeover candidate Chris Kirchner charged over $67m fraud

Chris Kircher - the man who tried to buy Derby County - has been charged with fraud in the United States and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of fraud.

Kirchner at one stage looked set to become the Rams' new owner after the club went into administration, only to withdraw from the process in June 2022.

Back in the US, Kirchner's Texas home was raided by the FBI on Tuesday morning and he was subsequently charged with "fraudulently offering and selling more than $67million of securities to multiple investors, more than $28million of which he misappropriated for personal benefit" by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It relates to the software company he co-founded, Slync, Inc.

In separate criminal charges, the Department of Justice charged Kirchner with wire fraud misappropriation of $20m from the company.

Kirchner made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hal R. Ray, Jr. on Tuesday.

"We allege that Kirchner lied about Slync’s business to secure tens of millions of dollars from investors, a massive portion of which he then stole from the company to live extravagantly while not paying Slync’s employees," said Sheldon L. Pollock, Associate Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office.

"The Enforcement Division remains laser-focused on uncovering and rooting out such brazen fraud and charging individuals who seek to induce investors to buy securities through lies and deception."

U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton added: “This defendant flaunted his apparent wealth while allegedly diverting millions from company coffers into his private bank account.

"Slync investors and employees are understandably outraged, and we sympathize. We look forward to holding Mr. Kirchner accountable in federal court.”