Tampa tech founder and executive Meade Lewis, who has garnered national attention for his roles in energy startups, has been indicted on five counts of wire fraud for allegedly raising $7 million by making false statements to investors.<\/p>\n
Lewis, 32, is facing 20 years in federal prison for each count, if convicted, and has been notified the government will try to recoup $7.09 million, the proceeds from the alleged offenses. Lewis is the founder and CEO of Tampa-based mIQroTech.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pleaded not guilty at a 12-minute arraignment Tuesday and was released, according to the clerk\u2019s minutes. A public defender was appointed to represent him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory Kehoe announced the charges Tuesday. mIQroTech did not respond to a request for comment via email and phone call, nor messages sent on its LinkedIn and Facebook pages.<\/p>\n
An email to Lewis seeking comment Tuesday evening was returned as undeliverable.<\/p>\n
mIQroTech, according to its website, is \u201can award-winning technology firm dedicated to the technological advancement of the oil and gas industry.\u201d It specializes, it says, in preventing pipeline leaks by detecting them early.<\/p>\n
Among its investors, the website says, are Chevron Technology Ventures through its Catalyst Program as well as major institutional funds. (The indictment does not name the investors allegedly defrauded.)<\/p>\n
According to a statement from the Justice Department and a copy of the indictment, here is what officials contend happened:<\/p>\n
Between October 2020 and May 2023, Lewis is alleged to have raised money by making false statements in emails to investors that were used to make financial decisions about the company. \u00a0<\/p>\n
He is also alleged to have created pitch decks with financial information about mIQroTech that included misleading statements and false representations.<\/p>\n
Among the investments that led to the charges are a June 1, 2021, $1 million wire transfer to an mIQroTech account Lewis managed. That was followed two days later, June 3, by a $3 million transfer.<\/p>\n
Lewis founded mIQROtech in 2017 after serving as chief information technology officer at two unnamed oil and gas firms.<\/p>\n