Man Sought For Bilking a Half-Million Dollars from Maine Investors

The Maine Office of Securities is looking for a man accused of scamming more than half-a-million dollars from 17 Midcoast residents.

61-year-old Robert Howarth, according to the Attorney Gereral's office, asked people to invest in his clothing business with the promise of a significant return. He told investors that he would buy last year’s clothing from retailers at reduced rates and then resell the clothes overseas at a huge profit.

Carrie Carney, an assistant attorney general, told the Bangor Daily News:

He came to the area, claimed that he was a successful businessman, and seemed to back that up by having lots of cash, dressing really well and having nice things. He convinced people to invest in his clothing business and said he’d give them significant returns on their investments.

Howarth also goes by several aliases, including Robert Chiofolo, Robert Kim Lee and Robert Sachs. He is described as white, 6-feet-1, 190 pounds and with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Please call the Maine Office of Securities if you have any information at 624-8557. A picture of Howarth can be seen at WABI-TV.