Richard Pundt, 64, was arrested Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and appeared Friday in U.S. District Court

Richard Pundt, 64, was arrested Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and appeared Friday in U.S. District Court on three counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy.The indictment was filed in U.S. Central District of California.Pundt said there is “absolutely no basis for the allegations. I am a victim in this case and once the evidence is in, I expect to be fully exonerated.”The indictment claims Pundt and others promoted a fraudulent high-yield investment scheme. Pundt and the others are accused of telling undercover agents that they could place them in a “safe ... no-risk, secret program.”The undercover agents were told they would have to undergo a “compliance” process and be subjected to “due diligence” scrutiny by the Central Intelligence Agency, the indictment says.
Pundt is the president and CEO of Enlighten Technologies Inc., a private legal communications network with voice, videoconferencing and data capabilities.
Pundt is a former FBI agent and former assistant Linn County prosecuting attorney, according to the Enlighten Web site. Pundt isn’t listed as practicing on the Linn County or Iowa Bar association Web sites.