PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Catherine Damavandi

Phone: (302) 577-8927

Date: December 8, 2003

POLKA STAR PLEADS GUILTY TO RACKETEERING, SECURITIES FRAUD

Federal Charges and New Jersey State Charges Pending

(Wilmington, DE): Jan Lewandowski (a.k.a. Jan Lewan) pled guilty today to theft and securities violations for defrauding Delaware investors, announces Attorney General M. Jane Brady. Lewandowski pled to 2 counts of Theft, 1 count of Racketeering, 1 count of Selling Unregistered Securities, 1 count of Sale of Securities by an Unregistered Agent and 1 count of Securities Fraud. Judge Susan DelPesco ordered an expedited Pre-sentence Investigation and has set a sentencing date of January 30, 2004. Per the plea agreement, the State will request that the defendant be sentenced to 5 years of incarceration, the first 3 years to be served in Delaware, as well as restitution to Delaware victims. The State will also request that the defendant be permanently barred from the offer or sale of securities or other investment product in Delaware. 



Lewandowski, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a Delaware Grand Jury in

March, 2003. The State alleged that Lewandowski, who traveled with the Jan Lewan Orchestra and had performed locally in Delaware, sold at least 300 unregistered securities of J.R.D. Productions, Inc. and Jan Lewan Show Gifts, Inc. in over 21 states for more than $2,000,000.00. In addition to the Delaware charges, Lewandowski faces federal charges of mail and wire fraud filed in U.S. District Court in Scranton, PA and criminal charges in the State of New Jersey. 



Many of Lewandowski’s victims were fans of his polka band and traveled with him on his band sponsored cruises and trips abroad. Victims were induced to purchase the fraudulent securities by promises of a 12% or 20% return rate. The State alleged that Lewandowski made fraudulent oral and written guarantees about the profitability of his businesses. 



Attorney General Brady said, “The defendant exploited his relationship with his fans across the country to his own advantage. You should ask the same questions of someone you know as you would of a stranger before you invest. Most scams are successful because the scam artist had first gained the trust of his victims.”

###