More people arrested in Gecko Holdings fraud case

Two former employees of a company suspected of engaging in mail fraud

were arrested Tuesday in Costa Mesa.

Nancy Klatter, 41, of Costa Mesa and Robert Perkins, 67, of Newport

Beach were taken into custody along with four other people. The suspects

are accused of participating in mail fraud, wire fraud and interstate

transportation of property obtained through fraudulent activity.

All of the people arrested were employed by Robert Syrax and his wife,

Sandra Coronado, who owned Gecko Holdings in Costa Mesa. The couple fled

town earlier this year but were found in a Florida hotel room in March.

Both of them were indicted and pleaded guilty to similar charges. Syrax

will be sentenced Nov. 3.

Employees reportedly operated an investment scam that defrauded more

than 500 people out of nearly $5 million. They claimed profitable returns

for an investment in a start-up Internet casino that didn’t exist. The

suspects allegedly sold stock offerings for the online casino but kept

putting off their clients. The date of the stock offering was

continuously pushed back and the suspects allegedly came up with

ridiculous excuses such as hurricane damage to the purported casino.

-- Greg Risling