Gwinnett County

FBI charges well-known financial adviser who disappeared last month

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation has charged a metro Atlanta financial planner who disappeared last month.

Chris Burns, who runs Sandy Springs-based Dynamic Money and two associated financial groups, disappeared on Sept. 24.

The 37-year-old was not facing charges at the time, but his businesses were under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Burns is also under investigation by the IRS.

[RELATED: Well-known financial planner disappears just before deadline to turn over documents to SEC]

The day before he was supposed to turn documents over to the SEC, Burns told his wife that he was heading to his parents' house in North Carolina.

His parents say he didn’t show. His wife told police that Burns texted the family that night, Sept. 24, saying he loved them. There’s been no contact since.

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When she filed a missing person report, Burns' wife told Gwinnett County police, “Christopher was contacted by the SEC in reference to an investigation dealing with his business. Christopher was not told what the investigation was for.”

Investigators believe Burns has millions of dollars in investors' money.

Burns was actively involved in a local church and the community, which is why many clients told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Tony Thomas that they trusted him.

[RELATED: Clients worry their money with well-known financial adviser may have disappeared]

Burns also hosted a weekly radio show on WSB Radio. He rented the time and wasn’t an actual employee.

Thomas spoke to several of his clients who had invested $300,000 to $500,000 in peer-to-peer loans and say their money is now missing.

Burns has now been charged with mail fraud and the FBI is asking for help locating him.

The car he was driving was found abandoned in Dunwoody. Inside the vehicle were copies of three cashiers checks totaling over $78,000.

The FBI is also asking anyone who has done business with Burns, and feels that they may be victims, to report it to the FBI.