Photograph Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Each day Beast/Getty/Fb
Counter-espionage missions in China and Russia. High-secret assignments for the CIA. And may’t-miss real-estate funding alternatives resulting in large paydays.
That is what Kiernan Main allegedly bought to his associates and followers for years, together with a minimum of two veterans of the armed forces, who informed The Each day Beast that he invited them to spend money on his string of companies, which they are saying turned out to be shams. Prosecutors say Main additionally duped two younger ladies out of their financial savings, for a complete of $125,000 mixed, earlier than the FBI arrested him final week on stalking fees.
As The Each day Beast first reported, authorities say the 26-year-old Marine Corps washout pretended to be a CIA operative who ran his personal cyber safety agency and even pressured one of many victims, whom he claimed was his then-girlfriend, to empty her financial institution accounts to pay for his accommodations, airfare, and different bills all “within the title of nationwide safety.” A prison grievance states Main threatened his ex, saying one of many “companies” he and his agency, EyesOnly, was affiliated with would goal her if she didn’t foot his payments.
Now acquaintances inform The Each day Beast that Main additionally scammed them in an actual property enterprise, utilizing tens of 1000's he siphoned from them to bankroll his luxurious life-style.
Based on his accusers, Main started a few of his schemes in Cayuga County, New York, the place he grew up. The alleged fraudster flitted to Tampa, New York, and Los Angeles, his newest area earlier than the feds nabbed him in Ames, Iowa. It’s unclear why Main was within the Hawkeye State when authorities discovered him visiting a good friend, who's from New York State and isn’t charged with any wrongdoing, however his prison case will proceed in California. (The good friend, who claimed no information of something Main had been as much as and requested to not be recognized, declined to touch upon the circumstances of the arrest.)
Main waived his proper to a detention listening to and preliminary listening to scheduled for Aug. 1, court docket information present. “Mr. Main understands that waiver of the preliminary listening to means the case will go ahead and be offered by the federal government to a grand jury in some unspecified time in the future within the close to future, after which both a proper indictment will probably be returned, or the present case dismissed if an indictment is just not returned,” his lawyer, Melanie S. Keiper, of the Federal Public Defender’s Workplace in Des Moines, famous in a latest court docket submitting. Keiper didn't return a message searching for remark.
As for Main’s detention, Keiper wrote in a separate submitting, “Though Mr. Main is waiving his proper to a detention listening to right now, he reserves the correct to have a detention listening to and search launch from custody at a later date.” (The U.S. Legal professional's Workplace for the Central District of California had requested pretrial detention for Main, arguing he was a flight threat and that “no situation or mixture of circumstances will fairly guarantee ... the looks of the defendant as required” and “security of every other particular person and the group.”)
Within the meantime, a number of individuals who say they’ve misplaced large in a few of Main’s alleged funding schemes hope federal brokers hold digging—and assist them, too.
Some residents in and round Main’s hometown of Auburn breathed a sigh of aid after they learn the wannabe intelligence maven was behind bars.
One acquaintance stated that Main appeared to focus on youngsters from comparatively prosperous households in his alleged scams and that he’d take as a lot as $10,000 from unsuspecting friends. They stated that many younger folks weren’t repaid till their dad and mom confronted his dad and mom, who initially bailed him out. “In a small group it’s a troublesome name for one household to show one other household’s improprieties, particularly realizing that the dad and mom are good folks,” the particular person stated. (Main’s mom didn't return messages left by The Each day Beast, and his father died in 2021.)
Main supplied a minimum of two of his alleged victims with a “contract” to spend money on certainly one of his sham corporations earlier than taking off with the funds, the particular person stated, including that they had been grateful that he was lastly caught. They imagine Main’s long-running schemes had been because of psychological sickness. “For the longest time nobody may discover him,” the particular person continued. “He was transferring from place to position continually. Hopefully Kiernan will get the assistance that he wants.”
On social media, Main used certainly one of his Instagram accounts to focus on some former allies who accused him of operating a rip-off. The Each day Beast reviewed one Instagram story with textual content that provided $2,000 to anybody with damaging details about one friend-turned-accuser beneath the particular person’s photograph. In a separate Instagram video, Main stares into the digital camera as he sits open air on a patio and seems to be gripping a cocktail. He appears beachy, along with his shirt open and a bandana round his neck whereas lounging within the sunshine. “There’s individuals who assume, you already know, that I owe ‘em cash and I don’t. Or they’d take me to court docket. The place the fuck are the lawsuits, you pussies? Sue me, fucking sue me…” He then mocks the viewers and laughs, “You guys are doing this over, like, a pair ok, a pair thousand…”
“Sue me, sue me, sue me,” he theatrically growls whereas gripping a special drink, which he tells viewers is champagne, and kicking his legs up within the air.
Kiernan Main confirmed off on-line when he was flush from his alleged scamming.
Photograph Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Each day Beast/Getty/Fb
Main appeared to be on a roll, growing the sum of money he was asking associates to speculate—till he crossed the 2 feminine victims cited in his federal case.
“He was very properly spoken, very convincing to some those who don’t know him,” the classmate informed The Each day Beast. “He hones in on one thing, research it, bullshits his method by way of the remainder of it.”
“He put up a facade so lengthy that I feel it caught as much as him. He made everybody assume he was well-off and rich and he couldn’t sustain with it anymore.”
Main was “obsessed” with authorities companies in highschool, the classmate remembers, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps as soon as he graduated. “He turned very eager on prime secret clearances, realizing issues that different folks shouldn’t,” the particular person stated.
He left the Marines early, nonetheless, for causes that aren’t publicly identified. The classmate informed The Each day Beast that Main stated he acquired a “concussion” within the Center East, and an area mum or dad who is aware of him stated he claimed to undergo a extreme mind damage whereas stationed abroad and was compelled to depart the Marines due to it. (Based on an uncle and two of Main's classmates, he did maintain a traumatic mind jury as a baby after falling in his basement.)
Main’s LinkedIn web page additionally claimed he “Obtained an Honorable Discharge post-injury” and has “Been personally liable for over $100 million of very delicate U.S. authorities gear on a number of events.”
A Marine Corps spokeswoman informed The Each day Beast that Main was within the service’s entry-level coaching pipeline from July 2014 till January 2015, and was discharged from the service in November 2015. “His early separation is indicative that his service was incongruent with Marine Corps requirements,” the spokeswoman stated, however wouldn't present additional particulars of Main’s departure.
Whereas a LinkedIn profile for Main boasted that he was “Deployed with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines to a wide range of European and Center Japanese nations in pursuit of operation Keen Lion 15 and the International Conflict on Terrorism,” the Marine Corps spokeswoman stated that Main by no means deployed abroad. Keen Lion 15, in accordance with the Marine Corps’ web site, is an annual, multinational navy train held in Jordan. Main’s final responsibility project was Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the spokeswoman stated.
The classmate stated Main’s first enterprise out of the Marines was promoting search engine marketing (search engine optimization) video programs, for which he’d host conferences in lodge banquet halls. He then gravitated towards an actual property wholesaling concern, searching for 1000's in investments from associates and acquaintances and promising folks a return.
A second particular person stated that in 2015, they attended certainly one of Main’s search engine optimization seminars on the Hilton Backyard Inn which included 10 to fifteen of his former classmates. Based on the attendee, Main “bragged about how a lot cash he had and known as us all losers for not becoming a member of" his enterprise alternative, which from the particular person's perspective, appeared like a “pyramid scheme.” The particular person added, “It was fairly evident that what he was doing wasn’t reputable and I left the seminar half method by way of as a result of he was a bully and manipulator.”
After the occasion, the acquaintance added, Main stated he bought his area title for $30,000 to an organization and “that was the beginning of him flaunting ‘his wealth’ closely on social media and attempting to get folks to have him make investments by way of foreign exchange and actual property wholesaling.”
Later, Main informed everybody he was transferring to Switzerland, the place he claimed to have confidential enterprise. At one other flip, Main set his sights on New York Metropolis, staying at a lodge for a few weeks till workers found his bank card wouldn’t undergo, in accordance with two folks with information of the scenario, who stated the lodge was able to name the police till somebody arrived to bail Main out.
The picture he constructed—with social media posts replete with flashy automobiles and fancy accommodations—appeared to work. “He preyed on ladies essentially the most,” the classmate added. “They appeared to be simpler targets for him. He would fly them out to L.A. on a regular basis. He didn’t have a set house. He could be in Florida, or Los Angeles.”
Main’s Instagram tales from June 2021 present he claimed to be engaged on a Netflix documentary. He additionally posted supposed conversations with celebrities, together with actors Adam Sandler and Jonah Hill and singers Justin Bieber and Harry Types, which acquaintances suspected had been faux messages. Main shared a screenshot of 1 purported Instagram message from Sandler, who wrote, “Kiernan, it has been an amazing honor to talk with you. I’m impressed by your journey and couldn’t be happier to bear witness to every thing happening. This movie will encourage folks for a lot of generations to return.”
In August 2017, Main invited greater than 30 associates from highschool to a giant occasion in Manhattan. In messages to the group, Main introduced, “My price range sits round $50,000. Additionally Dom Perignon is considerably greater than $100 in a membership. I've additionally contacted Motion Bronson and Logic’s administration in Manhattan. As of now ‘RatPak’ or Logic’s folks have responded and ARE .” He continued, “You’ll be capable to meet with buyers (if you would like) as properly so if you're taken with beginning one thing or pursuing a (worthwhile) dream I've a superb phrase to place in for you they are going to be open to hear.”
Main then went on to say that his enterprise acquired $4.6 million in actual property and supplied lessons, presumably in actual property, for as much as $1,999.99 a month. He added that he owns some New York Metropolis properties that he rents out, too. “I all the time hold to a minimum of 4 streams of regular earnings," he wrote within the group message reviewed by The Each day Beast. "In case you have questions simply textual content me I’m not attempting to sound and extra douchey.”
“By the way in which carry a swimsuit guys, for you younger ladies ummm the equal,” he later added.
A pristine navy background, fancy drinks and automobiles, and even hanging with celebrities—Main flaunted his so-called excellent life on-line as usually as he may.
Photograph Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Each day Beast/Getty/Fb
However one one that was invited stated the Huge Apple soirée by no means materialized. The final message the acquaintance acquired requested for folks to choose a date for the occasion, and warned, “Additionally, for those who’re one who thought that is/was some form of rip-off or that I'd extort anybody or use this in any approach to acquire completely something for myself, fuck you.”
Some associates, nonetheless, did really feel that Main scammed them in different methods.
Based on two folks interviewed by The Each day Beast, Main additionally took round $10,000 from one younger man in Auburn who acquired the cash as an inheritance after his father died. It’s unclear whether or not these funds had been ever repaid.
The mum or dad of 1 twenty-something who was allegedly approached by Main round 2018 begged their son to not get entangled with him. “Our son gave him $3,000,” they stated. “And we came upon about it… however we ended up getting our a reimbursement. However there have been different youngsters that acquired scammed by him. Some folks acquired their a reimbursement. Some didn’t.”
“He stored promising folks stuff,” they added, saying their son was promised a job that by no means materialized. “Like younger youngsters simply out of highschool. You understand, they’re simply very naive. And my son was afraid to inform us at first. I imply, come on—we’re not silly folks. We figured it out, like actual fast.”
“Kiernan was a no one however he wished to be a any person,” the mum or dad continued. “He’s very crafty. He’s a really charming child.”
The would-be sufferer, whose dad and mom stated he paid Main in money and by no means acquired a contract or any form of receipt, and that Main promised to double his cash. The son solely acquired his a reimbursement after the dad and mom warned Main they had been going to name the police. Nonetheless, after returning the funds, he continued to harass the household with threats of lawsuits and messages each dad and mom stated they discovered horrifying.
A few of these messages had been posted publicly by way of Main’s Instagram and focused six different folks by publishing their final names and claiming they'd been “slandering” him.
“My counsel has efficiently retained helpful information involving the next surnames within the upstate New York area,” learn a duplicate of the put up reviewed by The Each day Beast. “These names have been caught slandering me and my companies for a number of years instantly ensuing [sic] a wide range of extortions (and makes an attempt) and a focused, constant combination of violence.
“Their unearned, silver-spoon credibility will probably be eviscerated by no matter means essential, regardless the losses I need to take to achieve this effort.”
“Though I've equally advantageous data on lots of of extra names, I'm going to make these ones an instance after which we're gonna regroup and see if throwing my title round like sweet continues to be in your price range.”
“I warned you. I watched you. Quickly I'll personal you.”
After the younger man’s dad and mom requested for specifics about his supposed enterprise, Main supplied an tackle on Wall Avenue the place he stated his places of work had been positioned. However after they known as the property supervisor to inquire, they had been knowledgeable that there was no firm of the kind there.
Reflecting on the surreal expertise, the mum or dad stated, “It’s simply unbelievable. The visions of grandeur… he was all the time a legend in his personal thoughts. And there’s completely nothing there.”
To those that knew him, Main got here from a traditional, respectable middle-class household in Auburn. He was the son of a nurse and corrections officer, who died unexpectedly early final yr. His uncle, a retired police officer, informed The Each day Beast he was “floored” and “shocked” that the FBI collared Main.
The uncle stated he hasn’t seen or spoken to Main for years, and didn’t even have his quantity, however knew that his actions brought about grief for each his dad and mom. “I didn’t actually know the place he was dwelling till the story got here out,” the uncle stated. “It was a supply of stress in everyone’s life, his mom, father. Nobody needs to see these things occurring.”
“Clearly as a household we’re unhappy that there’s all these victims,” the uncle added. “We really feel horrible for them. That’s not indicative of how our household was introduced up in any respect.”
“His father was a corrections officer, we’re in a small metropolis in upstate New York. I by no means in one million years thought that may occur. However then once more issues occur. For Kiernan, there’s penalties for actions. That is what’s occurring.”
In September 2019, one alleged sufferer of Main’s schemes complained on the Higher Enterprise Bureau web site, calling him “a fraud and rip-off” who refused to concern a $17,800 refund for a three way partnership along with his actual property agency. Main, the particular person claimed, invited them to this supposed enterprise alternative by way of social media. All the person needed to do was pay 20 % of the acquisition worth for a property they usually’d obtain $28,950 weeks later.
“He would use excuse after excuse as to why he was not in a position to communicate and the way he was coping with different conditions implying they had been extra vital than me receiving my $17,000 again,” the particular person wrote on the BBB’s web site.
Main replied to the accusations two months later, saying his firm Property Beast “has made a superb religion effort to resolve this matter.” He stated the complainer “clearly ignored our written disclaimers, insurance policies and pointers that had been supplied to him beforehand that may have protected him—to not point out he violated a number of statutes inside our agreements placing the corporate and its shoppers at additional authorized and monetary threat.”
“In conclusion,” Main added, “we take claims of fraud extremely critically and would really like our constituents to know that just about every thing within the above referenced grievance is unsupported by info and we're very assured these lies won't stay right here for very lengthy.”
Undeterred, the author responded that “a number of ACTIVE DUTY navy members” are “on this similar scenario some are abroad some are right here at house. KIERNAN M MAJOR additionally focused veterans.”
One service member informed The Each day Beast that Main provided partnership ventures in his actual property wholesaling enterprise, Property Beast LLC, however vanished after they requested for his or her a reimbursement. (Wholesalers sometimes act as middlemen, inking a contract with a house owner and promoting the property to an actual property investor above asking worth. They'll additionally purchase distressed properties and resell them for a revenue.)
A defunct web site for Property Beast says Main, the corporate’s founder, “is liable for over $100MM in actual property transactions” and “has generated tens of millions of dollars in beneficial properties for himself and lots of others throughout varied fields.” The enterprise’s web site advertises “Joint Enterprise Alternatives (50/50 cut up on project offers),” “VIP Non-public Jet Journey” by way of the JetSmarter app, and “Direct Entry to Over $500MM+ in Investor Money (worth incalculable).”
But across the similar time Main courted the service member, the owner of Main’s Tampa luxurious condo sued to evict him and a roommate, Trent Valentino. Court docket information allege Main didn't pay $2,717 in lease, and a decide dominated within the landlord’s favor, permitting them to take possession of the premises. (Valentino didn't reply to messages searching for remark.)
“He walked round like he was this big-shot actual property man,” stated the service member, who requested to stay nameless out of concern of reprisal from Main. “He bought folks on get-rich-quick actual property commissioning transactions which can be completed legally however solely somebody who’s been within the enterprise lengthy sufficient may really do it and keep that as a enterprise.”
“There was a fats group of us who actually believed this man was legit, and all of us acquired bought on his mentorship programs and partnered wholesale offers that sounded too good to be true.”
The particular person and his ex-business accomplice say they wired 1000's to Main in 2018. “I keep in mind he boasted about having $1.4 million in his checking account, supposedly from wholesale offers that had been doing nice for him,” the particular person added of Main.
“I feel that in itself was in all probability the primary catalyst for folks to imagine him, ‘trigger $1.4 million is some huge cash,” the particular person stated.
“When he by no means gave us the cash we had been imagined to make on this supposed funding, he simply made excuses till he disappeared,” the service member stated.
Nonetheless, the particular person didn’t go to the cops or in any other case attempt to recoup the funding. “I used to be additionally scared to pursue something as a result of he was a really intimidating particular person.”
Certainly, court docket information in Main’s prison case counsel he might be probably harmful, and that he allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with payback from his “associates within the Authorities.” The FBI says he additionally despatched dying threats to the ex, and the opposite feminine sufferer (who was his worker) and her father.
“I'll fucking discover you fuckers and I'll fucking maintain you accountable by no matter means essential. MEET WITH ME AND BE EVEN. Or fucking DIE. And I imply DIE. You'll each remorse this,” he wrote each ladies in June 2022, after they’d united and turned in opposition to him. Quickly after, he texted his ex, “I INTEND TO KILL YOUR WHOLE FAMILY.”
Across the similar time, Main posted photos of a Glock handgun with an ejected journal on Instagram, together with the phrases: “Calling my bluff, gon’ reply, ‘Hey.’”
The Each day Beast reviewed a “letter of intent” that Main despatched to the service member that indicated Main would pay him what he would have made had their deal labored out, as quickly as Main’s belongings had been returned to him by “present investigating events.” Main doesn’t point out who was investigating him and his firm, however warns, “Please think about the seven-figure loss my firm, its contractors and staff are taking - at no fault of our personal - in the course of this investigation - and respectfully - on prime of this assured payout to your self and lots of different three way partnership companions.”
In the meantime, a New York-based entrepreneur informed The Each day Beast he acquired the identical boilerplate letter from Main after demanding a refund of his funding, too.
The entrepreneur stated that in spring of 2019, he invested practically $18,000 in Main’s Property Beast enterprise. Main then invited him to Tampa, the place he met Valentino, who acted as Main’s worker and arrange appointments. “He’s like, ‘Come, come and I’ll present you the homes,’” the particular person added of Main. “I’m there like, oh wow. He seemed like a pleasant man, he took me out to eating places.” Now the particular person believes that “the cash he took me out with and the cash that he put me within the lodge with was the cash I already gave him.”
Not lengthy earlier than, Main had swooped in and provided to assist the person make $40,000 or in order that he misplaced in one other charlatan’s actual property rip-off. Main, the particular person stated, acted like a “savior.”
However in accordance with the entrepreneur, Main by no means confirmed him the homes as promised and stopped answering his questions after the Florida go to. Each time he requested for his return on funding, he stated Main would get aggravated and “belittle” him. For nearly a yr, he stated, Main gave him false hope that his cash was coming.
In a letter, Main promised to pay him $24,000, the quantity Main claimed the entrepreneur “would have acquired had our partnership labored out as we each hoped and meant.”
“He would present you offers. He would make you imagine he is aware of what he’s speaking about,” the particular person stated, including that Main posted footage on Instagram with McLaren sports activities automobiles and posing alongside Hollywood producer Jeff Rice, whom he known as a “good friend.”
“He made you imagine a narrative that he wished to color. That’s why he acquired all the cash from us.”
Reached by cellphone, Rice informed The Each day Beast he doesn’t know Main however will generally enable folks to snap his photograph. “I strive to not be imply,” Rice stated, including, “For this reason I’m not on Instagram. I attempt to keep out of the limelight."
The person confirmed The Each day Beast textual content messages he despatched to Main searching for solutions on his funding. In a single reply, Main apparently fumed, “You continually press me like my integrity is in query. And also you by no means try to hear what I'm explaining you simply say I say one factor and do one other which is essentially false.”
“All I wished was to talk to you on the cellphone see what’s occurring,” the entrepreneur texted.
“THEN SCHEDULE WITH MY ASSISTANT LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO,” Main stated.
Through the dialog, Main additionally alluded to some sort of enterprise emergency. The Each day Beast reviewed a screenshot of an Instagram story from the identical time interval, the place Main imposed textual content over a photograph of what seems to be his legs in sweatpants and toes kicked up in socks. “For these of you who usually are not conscious… A number of companions and I had been scammed for over $3MM this previous week. Please enable me a while to handle this matter and its impact on my companies & relationships.”
“Don’t f*cking DM me about it both,” Main concluded.
In texts to the entrepreneur, Main wrote, “You actually don’t even care that my enterprise was annihilated for nearly no motive and you place that blame on ME. I’m paying you with my very own cash…”
“Why don’t you ask all my staff why they labored for me for weeks with out pay… have to be due to how shitty I'm…proper?” Main added.
In his last message to the entrepreneur, Main form of apologized.
“Though it sucks, I feel it’s apparent that I couldn’t foresee this example,” Main wrote, including, “No matter how I current myself on-line or elsewhere, simply know I'm specializing in this considerably extra carefully than anything and all the time have been.”
“I'd think about you don’t have a lot religion in me as a mentor or coach of any kind and I couldn’t probably blame you. My true intention was to assist a couple of of you guys and I used to be merely unable to maintain my promise as described.”
“I additionally intend to offer a 50% refund for you as properly at a minimal,” Main wrote earlier than signing off. “Thanks, I hope you annihilate the week.”