He's managed to evade criminal charges of financial fraud for years, although he's been investigated by the FBI for allegedly bilking "his pastor, fellow parishioners at his church, his children's former teacher, retirees and the disabled," according to an SEC complaint cited by a Tribune article.
He also has been accused of defrauding several professional athletes who hired him to invest their money. But his alleged sociopathic, predatory behavior didn't end there.
Donald Dayton Lukens, a 58-year-old former financial advisor, now stands accused of defrauding a wealthy widow he dated. He allegedly dated 52-year-old Marietta Egen and conned her into transferring more than $225,000 under false precepts.
And yet, despite multiple investigations and lawsuits on similar allegations, Lukens has not faced charges until now.
Lukens had been barred by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from investing or handling money for others after a civil complaint was filed against him in 2001 in southern California. Then, in September 2002, it ordered Lukens to repay $4.7 million to his former clients and barred him from acting as a financial investment adviser.
Like Bernie Madoff, who made headlines for robbing high-profile investors of billions, Lukens stands accused of taking advantage of those who trusted him the most. But as his alleged high-stakes con game seems to be ending, his Chicago criminal defense attorney likely will be his new best friend.
And if convicted of felony charges of theft by deception, he'll have the opportunity to make some new friends in prison.
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Investment Fraud (FindLaw)
