FBI Offers Reward for Information on Fraud Suspect
NEW JERSEY — The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Rey E. Grabato II, who is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded around 2,000 investors of more than $650 million.
Grabato has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list, marking him as one of the individuals charged with defrauding American citizens. According to the FBI’s Newark field office, a significant number of the affected investors were from New Jersey.
The alleged investment fraud scheme operated from February 2018 to January 2022. Grabato served as the president and majority owner of National Realty Investment Advisors LLC, a real estate investment company. Authorities claim that he and others misrepresented the value of the company’s investment fund, which was intended to acquire equity interests in real estate assets.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Grabato on October 12, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey. He faces charges including:
- Conspiracy to commit securities fraud
- Securities fraud
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Wire fraud
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States regarding tax
Additionally, the FBI alleges that Grabato was involved in a separate scheme from November 2007 to August 2022 aimed at obstructing the IRS in collecting approximately $26 million in tax liabilities owed to the federal government.
If you have any information regarding Grabato’s whereabouts, you can submit a tip through the FBI’s online tip portal, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or contact FBI Newark at 973-792-3000.
