Feds sue Marietta lawyer over alleged Ponzi scheme

Federal authorities have accused a Marietta lawyer of operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded about 100 people out of more than $30 million.

Robert Price Copeland has not been charged criminally. But a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeks to force Copeland to forfeit a dozen properties that he bought with investment money he took in through the alleged scheme.

Copeland, who did not return phone calls or e-mails seeking comment, used a number of businesses — Axiom Development Group Inc., We Buy Inc., Robert P. Copeland P.C. and HBV Services Inc. — to carry out the fraud scheme, federal authorities said.