The founder of a local restaurant chain accused of embezzling more than $3 million from investors will stand trial in March after pleading not guilty to all charges Wednesday afternoon.

Annie Vick, 63, was arrested in February 2024 on 10 counts of security fraud, according to Colorado court records. Vick is also known as Annie Margaret Velasquez.

Police say Vick solicited money from investors starting in 2018 — though she was not licensed to sell securities — without disclosing the risks involved or the losses she incurred. She also used part of the investments she solicited to repay prior investors, as well as to cover restaurant expenses, make credit card payments and other personal uses, according to an affidavit for her arrest.

After the Securities and Exchange Commission opened an

See Full Page