Category Archives: ponzi scheme
SEC Obtains Emergency Asset in Freeze in Florida Ponzi Scheme Case
On August 13th, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Ponzi scheme charges against Florida resident Johanna M. Garcia and two companies that she owned and controlled (MJ Capital Funding LLC and MJ Taxes and More Inc.). In doing so, the federal agency obtained an emergency asset freeze. The SEC alleges that Ms…. Read More »
Report: Troubled Private Placement GPB Capital Holdings Paid Steep Commissions to Brokers and Broker-Dealers
According to reporting from InvestmentNews, GPB Capital Holdings — the troubled alternative investment company that is currently the subject of Ponzi scheme accusations — paid large commissions to the securities representatives as a substantial inducement to sell the private placement to investors. Specifically, commissions were paid at a rate of 9.3 percent. In total,… Read More »
Investor Bulletin: 10 Investment Tips for 2016
Whether you are a first-time investor or have been investing for years, here are ten tips from the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy to help you make more informed investing decisions and avoid common scams in 2016. Always check the background of an investment professional − it is easy and free. Details… Read More »
SEC Stops Ponzi Scammer Selling Notes in Florida Software Company
Although all Ponzi schemes inevitably collapse, it can be years before investors (or regulators) catch up with the scammer. For example, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently charged a Texas man with running a Ponzi scheme for more than a decade. The alleged scheme centered on efforts to raise money for a Florida-based… Read More »
SEC Obtains Judgment Against Ex-Radio Host Who Ran Real Estate Ponzi Scheme
On July 17, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a civil judgment against two individuals who cheated investors and lenders out of nearly $7 million through a fraudulent real estate investment scheme. The SEC said the pair, together with a third person, “misappropriated millions of dollars raised from investors through the fraudulent sale… Read More »
SEC, California Prosecutors Expose $2.6 Million Ponzi Scheme
Investors should always be cautious when dealing with unregistered investment advisors. Registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and state officials are important tools that provide investors with access to critical information. It is far too easy for scammers to lure unsuspecting investors with fake credentials and non-existent investment products. SEC v. Moore… Read More »
Sarasota Ponzi Scheme’s Victims May Recover Interest
When a Ponzi scheme collapses, the repercussions can last for years as investors seek to recover the money they lost. One of the largest Ponzi schemes in Florida history involved the late Arthur Nadel, dubbed a “Mini-Madoff” in the press after his $168 million Ponzi scheme collapsed in 2009. Nadel ran a Sarasota-based hedge… Read More »
Feds Say Ex-Stockbroker Used Fictitious CD Sales to Buy Florida Condo
On July 1, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia filed civil and criminal charges, respectively, against Malcolm Segal, a former stockbroker accused of running a Ponzi scheme. These actions come after a November 2014 order by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority which permanently barred Segal from working… Read More »
Federal Judge Sentences Jacksonville Ponzi Scheme Operator Who Defrauded Retired Teachers
On June 12, a federal judge in Jacksonville sentenced the former operator of a Ponzi scheme to 10 years in prison. Anderson Scott Hall previously pleaded guilty to four felony charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering in late 2013. The United States Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville recommended the 10-year sentence, which… Read More »
The Risks of Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts
Millions of Americans rely on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to save for their retirement. IRAs are a type of restricted savings account where the owner receives certain tax benefits. For example, in a traditional IRA, you may contribute a certain amount each year (up to $5,500 if you are under the age of 50)… Read More »
