The man who admitted to running the largest Ponzi scheme in British history, defrauding investors of more than 115 million pounds ($182 million), was sentenced to 14-1/2 years in prison.  Kautilya Nandan Pruthi pleaded guilty to defrauding about 800 investors during a 3-year period until November 2008.  His 2 accomplices - John Anderson and Kenneth Peacock - each found guilty last Thursday will have to serve 18 months in jail. How the Ponzi Scheme Operated. The trio defrauded investors by offering monthly returns of as much as 13%, a claim they said could be accomplished by investing fund assets in high-interest loans to distressed trading companies that engaged in the importing and exporting of goods. Instead of investing the money as represented, Pruthi spent the proceeds on London property, a Jaguar XKR, 3 Bentleys, 2 Ferraris, a Lamborghini, 2 Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce, a Volkswagen and a motorcycle.  That tally was compiled by London Police, who investigated the case after it was referred to them by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in 2009. Pruthi, Peacock and Anderson reportedly were ordered back in 2010 to pay the FSA £115 million for their unlawful accepting of deposits while operating as Business Consulting International.  The regulator said it would return any money it receives to investors.  It's not noted whether any of the victims' money was recovered.     [Bloomberg, 3/9/12].