Robert Fox, a resident of Chicago, has filed a lawsuit against Winston International Developments, LLC and its principal, Paris Winston, alleging fraud and deception. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on May 9, 2025. Fox accuses the defendants of tricking him into investing $250,000 in a nonexistent agricultural venture involving African grains.
According to the complaint, Fox was led to believe by Winston that there was an opportunity to invest in a large-scale agricultural project in the United States and Canada. This project supposedly involved growing grains such as Teff and Fonio. However, Fox claims that these representations were entirely fabricated. He alleges that Winston falsely portrayed himself as a billionaire with significant business acumen and past successes to gain his trust. "I’ve sold my grain company for a very substantial profit to the Saudi’s [sic] and I’m eager to jump right back in," Winston allegedly stated in one communication. Despite these assurances, no such sale or venture existed.
Fox's suspicions grew after he handed over $250,000 on January 16, 2025. Upon hiring a private investigator, he discovered inconsistencies in Winston's claims about his wealth and business dealings. For instance, land supposedly sold for $100 million to Saudi investors was actually sold at a much lower price to local Canadian residents. Additionally, Fox learned that Winston had used multiple aliases over the years.
The lawsuit accuses Winston and his company of fraud under common law and violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. It seeks compensatory damages amounting to $250,000 plus punitive damages potentially exceeding another $250,000 due to the fraudulent nature of the defendants' actions. The plaintiff also requests reimbursement for litigation costs and attorneys' fees.
The case highlights how false promises can lead investors astray when unscrupulous individuals exploit their trust for financial gain. Robert Fox is represented by attorney Michael R. Lieber from Lieber Law Group LLC based in Chicago. The case is identified as Case No: 1:25-cv-05196.