An Indiana real estate investment owner who preyed on his Amish roots and siphoned millions into personal deals will remain behind bars for eight years after the Seventh Circuit ruled his sentencing was both justified and proportionate.
Earl Miller, former head of 5 Star Investments, was accused of diverting $4.5 million in investor funds—money he funneled to friends, spiritual advisers, and even his own pocket. On Wednesday, a three-judge appellate panel dismissed Miller’s claims that the figure was inflated, calling it a fair estimate of the damage he intended.
“This number—money Miller admits he misused—perfectly captures the harm he inflicted,” the court said.
Misleading His Own Community
Raised in Indiana’s Amish community, Miller targeted locals with little formal education or financial know-how. His pitch promised opportunities in green energy products supposedly backed by patents. In reality, those patents never existed, and over $1.7 million vanished into companies owned by Miller’s associates.
The court highlighted how Miller distributed glossy investor documents that hid the truth—investors were unknowingly funding his private debts and fraudulent ventures. By 2015, the company stopped paying out returns, but Miller pressed on, soliciting more funds as 5 Star collapsed.
