A February trial has been scheduled in the financial misconduct case against the man who once ran South Dakota’s investment-for-visa program.
The American News reports that Joop Bollen’s trial is scheduled for Feb. 6-10. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.
Bollen faces felony charges for allegedly diverting more than $1.2 million from an account created as part of a contract with the state to protect it against costs or liability from the EB-5 visa program.
Authorities say the money was mostly replenished.
Bollen’s attorney has said the state is trying to make his client a scapegoat for the scandal-ridden program.
The charges deal with SDRC Inc., a company Bollen founded that previously handled South Dakota’s participation in the EB-5 visa program.