Hey there, ever heard about a little ol’ scam sprouting right from the Rockies? Let me catch you up. A gentleman from Colorado, Tra Jay Scarlett, just came up short trying to pull a fast one on some trusting folks. This guy was all about big talk and even bigger pockets—his, not the investors’. He worked some magic, alright, but with a dark twist, extracting a whopping $3.7 million from folks eager to cash in on the next big ecological wave. More [details on his sentencing](https://www.cbsnews.com/).

Now picture this beauty: “Chatfield PCS, Ltd,” and “GO ECO Manufacturing, Inc.”—two names that sound as fishy as expired lox on a bagel, right? Between February 2016 and January 2021, Scarlett spun tales about these companies, enticing about 34 hopefuls into throwing their hard-earned dollars into what they believed was the future of sustainable packaging. Who wouldn’t want a slice of that eco-friendly pie? Plus, those 15-20% returns dangled like a carrot at every investor meeting.

The Biz Con

• Company Names: Chatfield PCS, Ltd." and "GO ECO Manufacturing, Inc.
• Victims: Approximately 34 investors
• False Promises: Strategic corporate partnerships

Our guy Scarlett was quite the storyteller. He conjured up strategic partnerships with drink manufacturers and commercial clients that existed only in his imagination. Frankly, the whole thing sounds like a sitcom plot, minus the laugh track and plus a twist of financial ruin.

And here’s the kicker. According to the [Colorado Attorney General’s Office](https://coag.gov/), classic warning signs light up at these promises of massive returns. It’s like promising Brooklyn Bridge deeds—an age-old trick in new clothes.

But alas, fantasy met reality, and Scarlett got served a hefty helping of justice: 12 years in community corrections. That’s what you get when you mix deception with misused investments. Plus, he owes more than $3.6 million back to those poor overpromised souls.

Let this be a lesson to us all: if it sounds too good to be true, well, it probably is. Keep a sharp eye and a skeptical ear, especially when your hard-earned cash is at stake.

More from CBS News

Christa Swanson is a Digital Media Producer at CBS Colorado in Denver, keeping you looped in on the latest and, shall we say, “greatest” happenings.

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