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A.J. Discala, best known for being the ex-husband of Jamie-Lynn Sigler, was arrested in a $300 million pump-and-dump stock scheme.
The Daily News called the crime he’s accused of committing as an “age-old scheme popular in gangland of pumping up the price of penny stocks, then selling off the worthless paper, leaving sucker investors holding the bag.”
His attorney, Joseph Tacopina, told CNBC, “Anyone who knows [Discala] is shocked by the accusations. I want to point out these are only accusations.”
1. He Controlled Jamie-Lynn
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Discala, who once dabbled in acting, was Sigler’s agent when turned romantic for the pair.
Their two-year marriage ended in September of 2005. She told People, ” But with A.J. and I there’s no hatred, there’s no anger. I still love him very much. I know he loves me. It’s just what’s best for both of us.”
Sigler was 22 she tied the knot with Discala, who was 32 at the time.
Sigler dished to People about how he took care of her:
I met A.J. when I was 19. We started dating when I was almost 21. But from the day I met him he was the man in my life. So I basically went from being in high school and having my parents take care of me to A.J. being that caretaker.
However, Discala turned out to be too controlling of his young wife, and Sigler told Page Six,“I was told what I needed to be in every given moment — what I should and shouldn’t say. It was such a weird thing when I was 21 or 22 and just getting into the world. I didn’t know who I was … But, man, am I glad we didn’t have children.”
2. He’s Married & Has a Daughter
Enjoying Barcelona with my wife! pic.twitter.com/rCNWV08LsQ
— AJ Discala (@AJDiscala) August 10, 2013
He married Dounya in 2011 in France. His website has a personal page, where he boasts all the pictures of his big day.
They have a daughter, Emma.
3. He Dated Haylie Duff
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They split after only a year of dating.
4. He Works for OmniView
He is the Chief Executive Officer of OmniView Capital Advisors.
Their Twitter handle summarizes the company as:
OVCA is a merchant bank providing access to capital and advisory services to fast growing companies that have reached an inflection point in their development.
He started his career working at his family’s real estate, Discala Fairfield. According to his company’s website, “Throughout his career in financial services, Mr. Discala has advised on over $2 billion in secured debt, equity, and mezzanine financing transactions across a broad spectrum of industries.”
You can read his business blog here.
5. He Started a Nonprofit
He started The Discala Foundation in 2012. The organization works on nutrition for poor countries.