Oklahoma Attorney General seal
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 6, 2025) — A husband and wife who defrauded almost $500,000 from Oklahomans have been sentenced following their indictment by the Multi-County Grand Jury.
Brian Berry was sentenced to 18 years, with five years to be served in prison and 13 years on probation. He was also ordered to pay $451,000 in restitution to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, which had compensated some of the Berrys’ victims, an additional amount of approximately $22,000 to another victim for economic losses, and $10,000 to a victim who MassMutual had not reimbursed.
Amanda Berry received an 18-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay restitution.
The case involved the couple creating a shell company called ICON Financial Group LLC. Court records show the Berrys convinced clients, many of whom were friends, to invest in their fraudulent company over a three-year period. The couple used these funds for personal use while returning only partial payments to some victims.
Several victims had legitimate MassMutual investment accounts and were manipulated into transferring their funds to the Berrys’ shell company. MassMutual terminated the couple on Oct. 1, 2020, and subsequently reimbursed several of the victims.
“Financial fraud of this magnitude causes devastating harm to hard-working Oklahomans who trusted these individuals with their life savings,” said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. “This sentence sends a clear message that white-collar criminals who exploit positions of trust will face serious consequences in Oklahoma. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who prey upon the financial security of our citizens.”
The case was prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Oklahoma Department of Securities (ODS) following an investigation by ODS.
“The Oklahoma Department of Securities is grateful to Attorney General Drummond and his staff as well as those on the Department’s staff who brought this case to a just ending,” said Melanie Hall, ODS Administrator. “The Berrys took advantage of long-term relationships and the trust placed in them — circumstances that often occur in connection with securities violations. No matter how well you think you know a person soliciting you for an investment, always do your homework before turning over your hard-earned money.”
Call the Oklahoma Department of Securities at 405-280-7700 or visit its webpage at www.securities.ok.gov to ask any questions about a potential investment.
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