Miami Man Who Claimed To Be Saudi Sultan Gets Royal Sentence

MIAMI, FL — A 48-year-old Miami man who passed himself off as a Saudi Sultan for years and lived an over-the-top lifestyle as he bilked some $8 million from dozens of unsuspecting investors from the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Canada and Switzerland, was sentenced Friday to more than 18 years in a not-so-palatial federal penitentiary.

Anthony Gignac drove around in a Ferrari with fake diplomatic license plates and claimed ownership of an exclusive Fisher Island home that bore a "Sultan" nameplate while introducing himself as Khaled Al-Saud, Khalid Al-Saud, Khalid Bin Al-Saud, Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Saud and Sultan Bin Khalid Al Saud.

“Over the course of the last three decades, Anthony Gignac has portrayed himself as a Saudi Prince in order to manipulate, victimize, and scam countless investors from around the world," explained U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Miami in announcing the sentence.

This wasn't Gignac's first such offense. He was arrested or convicted 11 separate times since 1988 involving "prince-related schemes," according to prosecutors.

"As the leader of a sophisticated, multi-person, international fraud scheme, Gignac used his fake persona — Prince Khalid Bin Al-Saud — to sell false hope," Fajardo Orshan said. "He sold his victims on hope for their families, careers, and future."

Beginning as early as May of 2015, federal prosecutors said Gignac claimed to be a Saudi Arabian Prince by the name Khalid Bin Al-Saud.

"To support his fraudulent persona, Gignac purchased fake diplomatic license plates, a fake Diplomatic Security Service badge for his bodyguards, traditional Saudi garb, luxury goods consistent with the lavish lifestyle of a Saudi Royal and business cards referring to himself as “Prince,” “His Royal Highness,” and/or “Sultan,” prosecutors said.

Gignac's lavish lifestyle included Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, yachts, expensive jewelry, designer clothing, travel on private jets and the two-bedroom property on Miami Beach's exclusive Fisher Island.

He also had an Instagram account with pictures of Saudi Royal family members, including the king. Gignac posted captions like “my dad” with the photos and introduced himself as a prince when meeting investors, sending emails and taking phone calls.

"He traveled with security and demanded that certain royal protocol (i.e., gift giving) be followed when individuals met him to engage in business deals," according to prosecutors, who said the gifts included paintings, jewelry and memorabilia.

Gignac even flew from London in 2017 through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on a passport in the name of another person.

"Beginning in March of 2017, Gignac presented himself as a member of the Saudi Royal family in an attempt to purchase a multi-million dollar hotel in Miami," federal prosecutors in Miami said.

"Gignac stayed at the hotel using a credit card in the name of a member of the Saudi Royal family without that individual’s authorization," according to prosecutors. "When visiting the hotel, Gignac drove a Ferrari with diplomatic license plates."

He also claimed to have diplomatic immunity and said he was required to check in with the U.S. Department of State every few hours, prosecutors explained.

“Our tremendous success in finally closing this case could never have been possible if not for the global reach of DSS and the close cooperation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” added Special Agent in Charge Fred Stolper of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service.

Prosecutors said Gignac set up a phony investment company in 2015 called Marden Williams International LLC, which went by MWI. The entity was used to process the financial investments Gignak bilked out of individuals and businesses around the world.

He offered investors exclusive business opportunities throughout the world, including in a pharmaceutical company based in Ireland, a casino in Malta, luxury hotels and a jet-fuel trading platform in the Middle East. In addition, Gignac offered investors the chance to purchase his alleged stake in Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company — Saudi Aramco.

"Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gignac’s residence in Miami and discovered two fraudulent diplomatic license plates, a fraudulent DSS Special Agent badge, unauthorized credit cards and financial documents in the name of a member of the Saudi royal family, ammunition, thousands of dollars in U.S. currency, jewelry and artwork," federal prosecutors said.

One person invested some $5 million with Gignac, who allegedly had help from others.

Gignac earlier pleaded guilty to impersonating a foreign diplomat or foreign government official, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

A restitution hearing has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 30 before Judge Altonaga in Miami.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederic Shadley. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling the asset forfeiture aspects of this case.