Tag Archives: ponzi scheme

Ponzi Schemes, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Rhino Capital Group Investment Losses? How to Recover Damages.

November 2018

We are investigating options for recovery of damages for investors who may have suffered losses on the following :

  • Global Credit Recovery
  • Delmarva Capital
  • DeVille Asset Management
  • Rhino Capital Holdings
  • Rhino Capital Group
  • Riverwalk Financial Corp.

The U. S. Securities & Exchange Commission has charged the following individuals with operating a Ponzi scheme that raised over $345 million from investors who believed they were investing in a business that collected and resold consumer debt:

  • Kevin B. Merrill                              Towson Maryland
  • Jay B. Ledford       Westlake, TX & Las Vegas, NV
  • Cameron R. Jezierski                      Fort Worth, TX

According to the SEC complaint, the more than 230 investor/victims include small business owners, restaurateurs, construction contractors, retirees, doctors, lawyers, accountants, bankers, talent agents, athletes and financial advisors.

Instead of using the investor funds as promised, the individual defendants stole much of it and used it to fund their lavish lifestyles which included:

  • A Ferrari costing $368,000
  • A seven carat diamond ring costing $330,000
  • $13 million paid to casinos
  • $10 million on high end cars (Bugatti, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini and others)
  • A private jet costing $500,000

If you are a victim of this fraud, contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be able to recover damages for your losses.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Department of Justice, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Securities America, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Hector May-Former Securities America Broker-Investigation Over Missing Client Funds-New City, NY

May 2018-New City, New York

Local press is reporting that Rockland/Orange County businessman and former Securities America stockbroker Hector May is being investigated by federal prosecutors on allegations of stealing money from his clients. May has operated Executive Compensation Planners in New City, NY since the mid 1980’s.

According to  FINRA records   May currently has one customer claim pending that alleges misappropriation of funds and there is a disclosure that the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting an official criminal investigation of May’s potential involvement in a suspected felony.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the agency that licenses and regulates stockbrokers and brokerage firms. FINRA requires brokers and brokerage firms to report customer complaints and disputes as well as regulatory sanctions. In addition brokers are required to disclose certain financial matters such as personal bankruptcies, judgments and liens.

May is a prominent member of the local business community and received the Rockland Business Association’s Pinnacle Award two years ago. Press reports suggest that the missing millions could be the result of a Ponzi scheme.

In a Ponzi scheme the perpetrator of the fraud uses some of the money from the new victims, who think the funds are being invested, to pay fake returns to the earlier investors. The balance of the new funds are used by the perpetrator of the fraud for personal expenses.

Hector May was a registered representative of Securities America from 8/1998 until March 2018 when he was fired. Securities America indicated the reason for the discharge was: “Misappropriation of client assets”.

If you have an account with Hector May and have questions about how it has been handled or believe you are a victim of fraud,  call for a no charge consultation with an experienced securities attorney to learn how you may be able to recover damages from May’s employer, Securities America.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Elder Financial Abuse, Fraud, Ponzi Schemes, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Theft

Clifton Stanley, Michael Watts, The Lifepay Group- Targeted in SEC Fraud Suit-Houston, TX

April 2018-Houston, Texas

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged the following individuals and their companies with operating a $2.4 million Ponzi scheme targeting elderly retirees:

  • Clifton E. Stanley of Galveston, TX
  • Michael Watts of Sugar Land, TX
  • The Lifepay Group of Missouri, TX
  • SMDRE LLC of Sugar Land, TX

According to the SEC complaint, from 2010-2017 they used a collection of misrepresentations and phony promises  of outsized investment returns to convince these elderly victims to invest their retirement funds. Investors were promised returns of up to 36% per year.

Stanley is alleged to have used $1.3 million for personal expenses, including country club memberships, living and entertainment expenses.

Link to SEC complaint

If you were referred to invest in this scheme by a registered stockbroker you may be able to recover your losses from the broker’s employer. Call for a no charge consultation to learn about your options.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Failure to Supervise, H.D. Vest, Lack of Due Diligence, Mortgage Backed Securities, Ponzi Schemes, Promissory Notes, Signal Securities Inc., Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

Jerry Raines -Former Signal Securities Broker-Customers Sue For $4M Losses on Woodbridge Funds-Kilgore,TX

May 2018- Kilgore, TX

The FINRA records of  Jerry D. Raines,  a  previously registered stock broker who was last employed by HD Vest Investment Services and Signal Securities,  disclose  eleven  pending customer disputes involving the allegedly fraudulent Woodbridge Mortgage Investment Funds. Raines operates Stonelion Insurance and Financial Services in Kilgore, TX.

Total damages alleged in the pending cases exceed $4 million. Claimants have alleged unsuitable recommendations, misrepresentation and that Raines participated in a civil conspiracy and committed overt acts to support  the Woodbridge fraudulent scheme.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the agency that licenses and regulates stockbrokers and brokerage firms. FINRA requires brokers and brokerage firms to report customer complaints and disputes as well as regulatory sanctions. In addition brokers are required to disclose certain financial matters such as personal bankruptcies, judgments and liens.

 

Woodbridge-A $1.2 billion Ponzi According to SEC

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges and an asset freeze against a group of unregistered funds and their owner who allegedly bilked thousands of retail investors, many of them seniors, in a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.

According to the SEC’s complaint, unsealed in federal court in Miami, Florida, Robert H. Shapiro and a group of unregistered investment companies called the Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC, formerly headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, defrauded more than 8,400 investors in unregistered Woodbridge funds.

“We allege that through aggressive tactics, Woodbridge and Shapiro swindled seniors into a business model built on lies, which the SEC’s Miami Regional Office staff moved to halt,” said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division.

“Our complaint alleges that Woodbridge’s business model was a sham,” said Steven Peikin, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division. “The only way Woodbridge was able to pay investors their dividends and interest payments was through the constant infusion of new investor money.”

“Our complaint further alleges that Shapiro used a web of layered companies to conceal his ownership interest in the purported third-party borrowers,” said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SEC’s Miami Regional Office.  “Shapiro used the scheme to line his pockets with millions of investor dollars.”

Raines was employed by HD Vest Investment Services  from 8/2014-5/2017.  Prior to that  he was with Signal Securities, Inc.  from 4/2013-6/2014 and before that with Woodmen Financial Services.

If you have losses in an account handled by Jerry Raines, call for a no charge consultation to learn about your options for recovery of damages.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Failure to Supervise, Fraud, H.D. Vest, Lack of Due Diligence, Misrepresentation, Mortgage Backed Securities, Promissory Notes, Signal Securities Inc., Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

Donna Barnard-Former Signal Securities Broker-Subject of $4M Woodbridge Fund Suits-Kilgore, TX

May 2018- Kilgore, TX

The FINRA records of  Donna L. Barnard ,  a  stock broker formerly employed by HD Vest Investment Services and Signal Securities,  disclose  10  pending customer disputes involving the allegedly fraudulent Woodbridge Mortgage Investment Funds I and II. Barnard is affiliated with Stonelion Insurance & Financial Services in Kilgore, Texas.

Total damages alleged in the ten claims are nearly $4 million. The former customers of H.D. Vest and Signal Securities who are bringing the claims allege unsuitable investments, misrepresentation, failure to perform adequate due diligence and the  sale of unregistered securities

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the agency that licenses and regulates stockbrokers and brokerage firms. FINRA requires brokers and brokerage firms to report customer complaints and disputes as well as regulatory sanctions. In addition brokers are required to disclose certain financial matters such as personal bankruptcies, judgments and liens.

Woodbridge-A $1.2 billion Ponzi According to SEC

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges and an asset freeze against a group of unregistered funds and their owner who allegedly bilked thousands of retail investors, many of them seniors, in a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.

According to the SEC’s complaint, recently unsealed in federal court in Miami, Florida, Robert H. Shapiro and a group of unregistered investment companies called the Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC formerly headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, defrauded more than 8,400 investors in the  unregistered Woodbridge funds.

“We allege that through aggressive tactics, Woodbridge and Shapiro swindled seniors into a business model built on lies, which the SEC’s Miami Regional Office staff moved to halt,” said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division.

“Our complaint alleges that Woodbridge’s business model was a sham,” said Steven Peikin, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division. “The only way Woodbridge was able to pay investors their dividends and interest payments was through the constant infusion of new investor money.”

“Our complaint further alleges that Shapiro used a web of layered companies to conceal his ownership interest in the purported third-party borrowers,” said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SEC’s Miami Regional Office.  “Shapiro used the scheme to line his pockets with millions of investor dollars.”

Barnard , who is not currently registered as a broker, was employed by HD Vest Investment Services  from 8/2014-5/2017.  Prior to that  she was with Signal Securities, Inc.  from April 2013 until June 2014.

If you have losses in an account handled by Donna Barnard,  call for a no charge consultation to learn about your options for recovery of your losses.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870