Orange County Man Posing as Millionaire Fashion Designer Jailed

A previous version mentioned an Ulster County case, that case was dismissed. 

A man who posed as a famous fashion designer and stole almost a million dollars from victims in the Hudson Valley and elsewhere is heading to prison.

On Thursday, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that William Vogt, 57, of New Hampton was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison for stealing over $350,000 from a victim based in New York City.

Voght posed as internationally renowned fashion designer “Bill Bolland” to lure his victim into making large sum investments, officials say.

An investigation by the Attorney General’s Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau, revealed that over a three-year period, Vogt acted as millionaire designer Bill Bolland, with a company called “Bill Bolland Haute Couture.” Vogt used his fake persona to convince a victim in Manhattan to invest with him in various fictitious ventures from 2011 to 2014.

According to the indictment and statements made by prosecutors, Vogt made no investments and transacted no business on behalf of the victim. Instead, he used the money for a variety of personal and living expenses.

“My office does not tolerate those who swindle unsuspecting New Yorkers into financial schemes for personal gain,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman stated. “We will continue to protect consumers from scam artists and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”