ATM King: Royally Screwed-People Involved
ATM King: Royally Screwed
People Involved in the ATM Scandal
Zook's testimony described Fernandez someone with "deep connections and relationships in the ATM industry..." According to an investor pitch presentation from 2022, Fernandez is lauded for his years of expertise and leadership in the electronic payment industry.
Of note, the presentation points out that Fernandez was the Senior Vice President of Cardtronics. According to historical industry news, he managed marketing strategies along with mergers and acquisitions from 2008-2017. From there, Fernandez joined Paramount as Chief Development Officer.
One may ask themselves: Why would such a successful leader move from a role as Senior Vice President of the world's largest ATM management group in Houston, Texas, to Chief Development Officer at a significantly smaller operation in Lancaster, PA?
Months later, this question will be asked again when a Reddit user claiming to be Fernandez himself claimed to have been in charge of Paramount's acquisitions, but had no ties to Heller's "inner circle".
Slide from investor presentation highlighting Fernandez
View the investor presentation
Jorge Fernandez
Daryl Heller was the mastermind orchestrating the entire operation. A lifelong Lancaster County resident, Heller cultivated a persona of integrity, drawing on his Mennonite schooling and a family legacy of pastors to present himself as trustworthy. However, this image masked his role as the central figure in the scheme.
As the head of Heller Capital Group and the owner of Paramount Management Group, Heller controlled nearly every aspect of the ATM network, from deploying machines to managing payouts, and used his position to manipulate investors with carefully constructed narratives and polished spreadsheets.
Heller is the primary individual being sued by thousands of investors and nearly two dozen banks and private lenders.
Daryl Heller
Jerry Hostetter, a locally influential figure, was equally pivotal in driving the scheme forward. Known around the Lancaster community for his business acumen and deep community involvement, Hostetter co-founded Prestige Investment Group alongside Heller in 2011. His career included ownership of the Hostetter Management Company, a hog management business that grew from managing 30,000 hogs annually to an impressive 1.7 million before he sold the company in 2004.
Hostetter’s reputation as a successful entrepreneur, bolstered by his leadership roles at Ephrata Community Hospital and Lancaster Country Club, lent further legitimacy to the operation. Drawing on his extensive connections and persuasive approach, Hostetter attracted countless investors, many of whom viewed him as a reliable steward of their money.
Jerry Hostetter
Mir Jafer Ali "Buck" Joffrey, MD, a former surgeon from a Chicago butt-lift and cosmetic surgery practice, traded in his scalpel for spreadsheets and became a prominent entrepreneur, real estate investor, and podcaster. As the host of the "Wealth Formula" podcast, he champions financial literacy and alternative investment strategies.
A graduate of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Joffrey once pursued neurosurgery before pivoting to otolaryngology and specializing in cosmetic facial plastic surgery. Just a few years later, he left medicine altogether.
Buck Joffrey, MD
Randall Leaman is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paramount Management Group, an ATM management services company. With the company since its founding in 2011, Leaman initially served as President before transitioning to CEO in January 2022.
Before his tenure at Paramount, Leaman built a diverse portfolio of experience. He served as CFO/VP Finance at LamTech, Inc. from 1998 to 2011 and became a Partner and CFO at Tonya's Gluten Free Kitchen, Inc. in 2010. His strategic insight and financial expertise have been central to his leadership roles, though recent legal challenges facing Paramount have brought increased scrutiny to his career.
Randall Leaman
Dennis Ream, Jr. is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Paramount Management Group, an ATM management services company. Joining the company as CFO in 2016, he took on the additional role of COO in October 2019 while maintaining his financial leadership responsibilities.
With more than 15 years of experience in finance and operations, Ream has excelled in corporate development, strategic planning, and financial management. Before his tenure at Paramount, he served as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller at Eureka Resources, LLC, and as Regional Controller at Ogden Publications. Ream holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Dennis Ream Jr.
Dave Zook, a Lancaster County native, became the face of local opportunity. Having grown up in an Amish family near Atglen, Zook understood the community’s values and used this connection to foster trust. As the founder of The Real Asset Investor, Zook played a pivotal role as one of the primary fundraisers for the scheme.
Using seminars, webinars, and one-on-one meetings, Zook framed the ATM network as a low-risk, high-reward investment offering reliable income and tax benefits. He often highlighted his personal success with the investment, lending credibility to his pitch and reassuring those who might otherwise have been skeptical. For many, Zook’s ties to the community and his approachable demeanor made the opportunity feel safe and attainable.
Zook is identified as the Executive Vice President of Development at Prestige Fund D. In this role, he managed investor relations and finance, suggesting a significant level of involvement in the fund's operations.
Dave Zook
