Texas Securities Fraud: SEC Freezes Assets of Fourth Person Involved in Alleged $485 Million Ponzi Scheme

Earlier this month, the US Securities and Exchange Commission was able to get a temporary restraining order to the freeze the assets of Joseph Blimline, the fourth person accused of masterminding a $485 million Ponzi scheme involving Provident Royalties LLC. The SEC charged three other individuals, Brendan Coughlin, Paul Melbye, and Henry Harrison, in July. Their assets were also frozen.

In its amended complaint, the SEC alleged that Provident, owned by the four defendants, advanced approximately $93 million of investor funds to Blimline and entities that he controlled for the purchase of gas and oil interests. The fund repayments and the title, however, frequently did not go to Provident. The SEC also accuses Blimline of failing to disclose that he received the funds, was involved with Provident management, and had been sanctioned in the past by Michigan securities authorities.

The SEC’s amendment complaint charges the four men with violating the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 17a) and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The SEC is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions, financial penalties, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and prejudgment interest.

Director and officer bars are also being sought against the four defendants for allegedly committing Texas securities fraud. 36 affiliated entities are named as relief defendants for disgorgement purposes.

Related Web Resources:
SEC OBTAINS ASSET FREEZE OF JOSEPH S. BLIMLINE FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROVIDENT ROYALTIES $485 MILLION NATIONWIDE OFFERING FRAUD, SEC, December 4, 2009
SEC Accuses Provident Royalties in $485 Million Ponzi Scheme, Bloomberg, July 7, 2009
Securities Act of 1933 (PDF)

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