A Chandler man was accused of killing and dismembering a teen. He now faces fraud charges
A 39-year-old Chandler man accused of stabbing and dismembering a Nebraska teenager last year is now facing fraud charges after dozens of Arizona investors accused him of scamming them out of more than $5.6 million.
A federal grand jury indicted Anthonie Ruinard Jr., the former owner of the now-closed Tucson restaurant Pastiche Modern Eatery, on 19 counts of wire fraud and transactional money laundering. He ran an investment fraud scheme under the guise of a fraudulent business called Legacy Investors Group Inc. for roughly three years, according to court documents.
As part of the scam, federal investigators said Ruinard claimed to be a successful investor worth more than $400 million and convinced victims to invest "significant" amounts of money — ostensibly in venture capital, private equity and real estate. He guaranteed a monthly return on their investment.
Court documents claim Ruinard returned some of the money to investors as dividends to perpetuate the scam and used some to give kickbacks to an unnamed financial planner who allegedly helped him recruit investors.
But investigators alleged he spent most of the cash on himself. His expenses included rent payments, casino charges, designer clothing receipts and luxury car leases, according to court documents. He also spent more than $1 million on "credit card payments and debit card purchases for restaurants, clothing, fuel, groceries, airfare, hotels, furniture, golf and medical expenses" the court documents say.
If convicted, he could face decades in prison and up to $500,000 in fines, but first, Ruinard faces a murder charge and several other felony counts in Maricopa County Superior Court.
He was indicted last year in the slaying of 18-year-old Parker League. The teenager's dismembered body was found in Tonto National Forest in June 2023 — just months after federal investigators say Ruinard abandoned his investment fraud scheme.
A 'malicious' murder: What happened to Parker League?
League arrived at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on June 9, 2023, according to court documents. He was scheduled to fly back to Nebraska on June 12.
When he didn't return home, his family reported him missing to the Mesa Police Department. Shortly thereafter, his remains were discovered in a bonfire pile at a spot known as "the pit" in the Bulldog Canyon off-roading area.
Investigators said League was stabbed multiple times in his back. His body was dismembered, with his head and hands removed and placed near his legs. His remains were identified using dental records. Officials called the grisly killing "malicious."
Detectives obtained video footage from multiple locations where League’s bank card was used. A security camera at a gas station in Chandler captured League and Ruinard leaving the store together on June 11, according to court documents, which also indicate the two departed in a black sedan. Investigators said that was the last time League was seen alive.
The gas station was located just a few miles from Ruinard’s home. Video surveillance also showed League and Ruinard together in the early morning hours of June 11, per court documents. Investigators said the two appeared to arrive separately at a Phoenix nightclub but left together.
A different sedan was seen in that video footage. Both that vehicle and the car at the gas station were registered to Ruinard, according to court documents. Investigators said they found a basketball-sized spot of human blood in the trunk of the black sedan from the gas station video along with blood on the vehicle’s rear bumper.
Ruinard told investigators he met League at a Circle K and purchased bank cards from him, according to court documents. At the time of his arrest, Ruinard was found in possession of cocaine worth about $27,000, court document say.
The case remains pending.
Reporters Madeline Nguyen and Jose Gonzalez contributed reporting to this article.
Reach the reporter at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chandler man charged in brutal slaying of teen faces fraud charges
