A 35-year-old Hellertown woman who previously pleaded guilty to playing a part in a $54 million Ponzi scheme that law enforcement officials believe is the largest clean energy scam in American history was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison in federal court in Philadelphia Friday.
Amanda Knorr
NBC10 Philadelphia reported that Amanda Knorr and another Temple graduate founded Mantria Corporation, and using a sales pitch about “biochar” within four years had raised $54 million from investors, many of whom ultimately lost their life savings, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Livermore.
Knorr was also sentenced to five years’ parole and ordered to pay $54 million in restitution, only $10,000 of which has already been repaid through wage garnishment, the television station reported.
In a photo posted to an account on the website Flickr in 2008, Knorr self-identified herself as a CEO and found of Mantria Foundation and a “do-gooder,” in addition to using the tag “philanthropy.”