Edina, Minnesota — A 47-year-old Edina-based financial advisor pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud. Diverted $1.6 million from customer investmentssaid U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Lugar.
Christie Burge was the founder and CEO of Edina-based Keep Safe Investments, also known as KSI Financial, according to court documents. She also co-owned and operated her J&K Connect, a company that invests in real estate.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said that between June 2020 and February 2023, Verge “falsely represented to customers that it would keep their funds in safe and secure investment accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 401 accounts, and that some customers Approximately $1.6 million was misappropriated from the bank account.'' (k) Retirement Savings Plan. ”
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Instead, Ms. Berger repeatedly withdrew customer funds in amounts varying between $5,000 and $220,000 and deposited those funds into accounts she controlled. She then used her funds to purchase multiple properties in Edina for her real estate business.
According to the Department of Justice, she falsified records by referring to the deposits as “administrative” or “administrative” fees. She then fabricated her records to make it appear as if she had been authorized to withdraw her funds.
Berge faces up to 20 years in prison.
