Story by Ethan
On November 5th, 2025, the arrest of Ari Goldstein and Abbie Mandell, ages 55 and 51, was announced by Attorney General Matthew J. Patkin. Ari Goldstein and Abbie Mandell were charged with second-degree Securities Fraud, second-degree Misconduct by a Corporate Official, three counts of second-degree Theft by Deception, and third-degree Theft by Deception. Ari Goldstein was also charged separately with two additional counts of second and third-degree Theft by Deception and ten counts of third-degree Tax Fraud for Filing a Fraudulent Tax Return, Failing to File Tax Returns, and Failing to Pay Income Tax. The arrest and charges against Ari Goldstein and Abbie Mandell were a result of an investigation handled by the Division of Criminal Justice, Detective Stephen Kircher, Special Investigators Sean McCarthy, Stephen Minikel, Jordan Goodman, the New Jersey Division of Taxation-Office of Criminal Investigations, the North Caldwell Police Department, the Montana Department of Justice, the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office, the Flathead County Attorney’s Office, the Glacier County Attorney’s Office, the Missoula County Attorney’s Office, the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office, and the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, there is documentation from 2019 to 2025 of the defendants misguiding investors into purchasing shares in Breezy Point Energy Corp. (BPE). The company is based in Essex County, New Jersey while providing funding and for development of a BPE renewable energy project in Montana. Allegedly the victims would be provided false representations about BPE such as that the company was valued in the market between $10 million and billions of dollars, had acquired and controlled land in Montana, and was close to finalizing business negotiations that would generate massive returns for the company and investors alike. However, BPE had no claims to any land in Montana to develop the proposed solar and wind energy plans. Allegedly Ari Goldstein and Abbie Mandell knew about BPE’s very limited business related activity, legitimate or not, surrounding renewable energy. It is alleged that majority of the funds generated from the victims was siphoned out for personal use by both defendants for luxuries such as inflated paychecks, renting a mansion for Ari Goldstein and his family, several high cost vehicles, and various large sum cash withdrawals.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that the charges against Ari Goldstein and Abbie Mandell are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
