ATLANTA AP – A real estate promoter was charged in a federal indictment unsealed Thursday with ripping investors off of tens of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme and using money from the fraud to pay for jewelry, luxury automobiles and credit card and tax bills.

Gene A. O’Neal, 36, of Atlanta entered a not guilty plea at a hearing in federal court in Atlanta, said Patrick Crosby, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.