Government

Trial date set in $200M water vending scam

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July 22, 2026

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A New York federal judge has scheduled an October 2027 trial for Ryan Wear, the former owner of Water Station Management LLC, according to a Law360 report. Wear faces securities fraud and wire fraud charges stemming from an alleged water-vending-machine investment scheme.

Federal prosecutors allege Wear raised money from investors, including military veterans, by promising income from individual water vending machines. Authorities contend that many machines did not exist, some were sold to multiple investors and the machines that were deployed failed to produce the promised revenue. Prosecutors also allege Wear used money from new investors to pay earlier participants, support another vending business and cover personal expenses.

Water Station entered bankruptcy in August 2024, allegedly leaving investors with at least $200 million in losses. Wear faces one count each of securities fraud and wire fraud, both carrying potential maximum sentences of 20 years. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted.