Ponzi Scams

Ex-Oppenheimer Broker John Woods Accused of Running $110M Horizon Private Equity III Ponzi Scam

Published on: September 23, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Georgia Financial Advisor Allegedly Ran Ponzi Scheme Through Southport Capital

On August 20, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed an emergency action seeking to stop a $110 million Ponzi scheme allegedly operated by ex-Oppenheimer stockbroker, John Justin Woods.

The fraud, involving Horizon Private Equity III, LLC was run through Woods’ registered investment advisor Livingston Group Asset Management Company, (doing business as Southport Capital). On August 24, 2021, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against Woods and Horizon.

Senior Customer of Ex-NYLIFE Securities Broker Felix Chu Seeks Over $5M in Ponzi Scam Losses

Published on: August 6, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barred Stockbroker is Accused of Running Ponzi Scam That Defrauded Elderly Investors

Felix S. Chu, a former NYLIFE Securities registered representative, is currently facing at least two customer disputes in which the claimants are seeking $5,230,000 in damages. Chu was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year. He has been accused of running a Ponzi scam involving promissory notes that defrauded investors, including seniors.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is investigating claims of losses by former investors of ex-NYLIFE Securities financial advisor, Felix Chu. If you are one of these investors, call (800) 259-9010 today.

New York And Other States Sue GPB Capital Holdings For Mass Ponzi Scam

Published on: February 9, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

State Lawsuits Come After SEC Complaint and FBI Arrests

New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing GPB Capital Holdings along with five co-defendants for running a mass Ponzi scam.

The NY AG contends that the alternative asset firm and private equity fund manager, which is based in the state, defrauded investors throughout the US of over $700M. The complaint said that more than 1,400 of those victims were New Yorkers who invested over $150M.

SEC Says GPB Capital Holdings CEO and Executives Defrauded Over 17,000 Investors In $1.7B Ponzi Scam

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Justice Department Files Parallel Criminal Charges Against GPB Capital’s David Gentile and Others

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against GPB Capital Holdings CEO and owner David Gentile, ex-GPB managing partner Jeffrey Lash, Ascendant Capital owner Jeffry Schneider, and affiliated entities, including Ascendant Alternative Strategies, of defrauding 17,000 retail investors in a more than $1.7B in a Ponzi-like scam.

GPB Capital Holdings, an alternative asset firm that invests in auto dealerships and waste management, has been under investigation over Ponzi fraud allegations by the SEC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and others for more than two years. Now, in a parallel case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has filed criminal charges indicting Gentile, Lash, and Schneider. If convicted, they could each spend up to two decades in prison.

GPB Capital Principals Indicted

Published on: February 4, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Jeffry Schneider, David Gentile, and Jeffrey Lash, GPB Capital Principals Indicted

Our firm has written extensively about GPB Capital and allegations that the “investments” were a massive Ponzi scheme. The U.S. District Attorney for the Eastern District of New York has indicted several of the principals of GPB Capital, and the indictment was unsealed today, February 4, 2021.

Specifically, the district attorney incited Jeffry Schneider, David Gentile, and Jeffrey Lash. These individuals were also all arrested today and will appear before local courts for initial appearances in Austin, Texas, Fort Myers, Florida, and Boston, Massachusetts. According to the indictment, Jeffry Schneider, David Gentile, and Jeffrey Lash misrepresented the GPB Capital investments to investors about “the source of funds used to pay monthly distribution payments to investors in several of the GPB Funds, including Holdings I, Automotive Portfolio and Holdings II, and (b) the revenue generated by Holdings I in 2014 and Automotive Portfolio in 2015.” These allegations are also non-exclusive, meaning the prosecuting attorneys are leaving open-ended the totality of misrepresentations that are at issue.

Texas Retiree Files GPB Capital Fraud Claim Against Calton & Associates

Published on: December 15, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Senior Investor Seeks up to $500K in Damages For Loss of Savings

A retiree from Texas has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against brokerage firm Calton & Associates over losses he suffered in GPB Capital Holdings private placements and other non-publicly traded products. This investor is seeking up to $500K in damages. Arbitrators in Dallas, Texas will hear his case.

At Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com), our Dallas securities fraud attorneys are representing this claimant in his fight to recover his losses.

Leo Financial Advisor and Pruco Securities Broker Robert Luley Allegedly Unsuitably Recommended GPB Automotive to Customers

Published on: November 2, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Charlotte, NC Advisor Is Named in GPB Private Placement Claims

Robert Leo Luley, a financial advisor based in Charlotte, North Carolina, reportedly marketed and sold investments in GPB Automotive Portfolio from GPB Capital Holdings. The alternative asset firm is accused of running a $1.8B Ponzi scam that allowed brokers and investment advisors to earn over $165M in commissions.

There are several GPB funds, and all of them have lost money. GPB Automotive Portfolio is GPB Capital Holdings’ second-largest fund.

Ex-SagePoint Financial Broker Troy Baily Sold Future Income Payments Securities to Investors

Published on: October 23, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Suspends Nebraska Stockbroker Who Marketed An Alleged $300M Ponzi Scam to Customers

Troy Robert Baily, a former SagePoint Financial broker, has been suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for six months. Baily, who is also a previously registered investment advisor, is based in Nebraska.

The suspension comes in the wake of allegations that Baily took part in unapproved and undisclosed private transactions and persuaded customers to invest in Future Income Payments (FIP), which federal prosecutors now say was a $300M Ponzi scam.

Former Benjamin & Jerrold Broker Rand Heckler Faces Elder Financial Fraud and Ponzi Scam Allegations

Published on: October 9, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Rand Heckler of Rand Heckler, Inc. is Now The Subject of SEC and Criminal Fraud Charges

Former stockbroker Rand Allan Heckler of Long Island, New York, is facing US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges accusing him of investor fraud. Heckler, who was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year, is also now facing criminal charges alleging that he ran an over $1M Ponzi scam.

Over his 22 years in the securities industry, Rand Heckler worked at 11 broker-dealers. Four of these firms were expelled by FINRA.

Monex Grupo Financiero Customers Lose $40M in Alleged Ponzi Scam

Published on: September 21, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Texas Brothers Sue Financial Services Company for $1.5M

After turning down a settlement that would have reimbursed them 60 cents for every dollar, brothers Jim and Ken Karger are suing Monex Grupo Financiero for the $1.5M they lost in an alleged decades-long Ponzi scam. This alleged scam not only defrauded them but also other expatriates living in the town of San Miguel de Allende resulting in a loss of up to $40M.

Mexico Daily News, which conducted an investigation into the allegations last year, found that the money was stolen from 150 Monex accounts held by expatriates, including retirees.