Market Manipulation. Search

Ponzi schemes enforcement actions

This library records 474 enforcement actions tagged ponzi schemes. A Ponzi scheme pays returns to earlier investors from later investors' money rather than from genuine profits, which is investment fraud with no market involvement and no price to manipulate.

Actions are listed newest first. Each row links to a case page carrying the regulator's own release and, where one was published, the complaint. For how this technique works and what statute it engages, read the ponzi schemes technique page.

Actions
74
Total penalties
$160m
Median penalty
$1.1m
Largest
$40m
Criminal parallel
47%
Action Agency Filed Penalty Status
SEC v. Phil Donnahue Williamson (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-06-23 — settled
SEC v. Capital Financial Partners, Allen and Daub: criminal charges (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-06-12 — settled
Alleged Ponzi scheme operator faces court (ASIC, 2015) ASIC 2015-05-26 — judgment
SEC v. North Dakota Developments, Gavin and Hogan (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-05-05 $1m judgment
SEC v. Veros Partners, Haab, Risinger and Senefeld (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-04-22 — settled
CFTC v. Taylor, OTC Investments, Forex Currency Trade Advisors (ponzi schemes, 2015) CFTC 2015-04-21 — filed
CFTC v. Garcia, DG Wealth Management, Macroquantum Capital (ponzi schemes, 2015) CFTC 2015-04-14 $7.5m judgment
SEC v. James A. Evans, Jr., d/b/a Cashflowbot.com, d/b/a DollarMonster (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-04-13 $60k judgment
OSC v. Andre Lewis (ponzi schemes, 2015) OSC 2015-04-01 — judgment
SEC v. Capital Financial Partners, Allen and Daub (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-04-01 — judgment
SEC v. Gregory W. Gray, Jr., et al. (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-03-27 — settled
SEC v. Randal Kent Hansen (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-03-18 — judgment
SEC v. Julieann Palmer Martin (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-03-09 $1.1m judgment
SEC v. John A. Geringer and GLR Advisors (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-02-23 — settled
SEC v. Kristine L. Johnson, Troy A. Barnes and Work With Troy Barnes, Inc. (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-02-12 — settled
SEC v. Fujinaga and MRI International (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-01-30 $40m judgment
SEC v. Francisco Illarramendi, Highview Point, Michael Kenwood (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-01-30 $1m judgment
SEC v. Loren W. Holzhueter and Insurance Service Center (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-01-21 — settled
SEC v. Gary Harrison Lane (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-01-20 — judgment
SEC v. Frederic Elm and Elm Tree Investment Advisors (ponzi schemes, 2015) SEC 2015-01-15 $160k settled
CFTC v. Allied Markets, Gilliland, Wongkhiao (ponzi schemes, 2015) CFTC 2015-01-06 — judgment
SEC v. Nicholas D. Skaltsounis (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-12-31 $1.5m judgment
Victorian couple charged with $1.5 million fraud (ASIC, 2014) ASIC 2014-11-11 — judgment
SEC v. Thomas and Delsa U. The D. Christopher Capital Management Group, LLC (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-11-04 $150k judgment
SEC v. Alicia Bryan (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-10-22 $150k judgment
SEC v. Armand R. Franquelin (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-10-22 — judgment
SEC v. Anthony Coronati and Bidtoask LLC (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-10-17 $100k settled
CFTC v. Beatty, Peak Capital Management Group (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-09-30 $1m judgment
CFTC v. John R. Bullar and Executive Management Advisors L.L.C. (commodity pool Ponzi scheme, 2014) CFTC 2014-09-23 — judgment
CFTC v. Galemmo (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-09-15 — settled
CFTC v. Vasquez, Vasquez Global Investments (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-07-30 $995k judgment
CFTC v. Robert Andres (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-06-19 $32.4m judgment
SEC v. George Louis Theodule (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-06-02 $250k judgment
OSC v. Duncan Cleworth and others (ponzi schemes, 2014) OSC 2014-05-14 — judgment
SEC v. Chalmers and Julianne (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-04-17 — dismissed
CFTC v. Onsa, New Century Investment Management (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-03-31 $5.7m judgment
CFTC v. Defendants (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-03-21 $1.1m judgment
SEC v. Coplan and Jenny E. (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-03-18 — judgment
CFTC v. Leben (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-03-12 $7.7m judgment
SEC v. Timothy J. Geidel (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-02-20 — judgment
CFTC v. Defendants Harbor Light Asset (ponzi schemes, 2014) CFTC 2014-02-11 $3.9m judgment
SEC v. Richard D. Hicks (ponzi schemes, 2014) SEC 2014-01-14 — settled
CFTC v. David R. Lynch (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-12-12 $300k settled
SEC v. Frank Bluestein (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-11-26 — appealed
OSC v. TransCap Corporation and others (ponzi schemes, 2013) OSC 2013-11-21 — judgment
SEC v. Julieann Palmer Martin (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-11-13 $1.1m judgment
OSC v. Weizhen Tang (ponzi schemes, 2013) OSC 2013-09-30 — judgment
SEC v. Adam Troy Dooly (paid stock promotion, 2013) SEC 2013-09-30 $3k settled
SEC v. David G. Bartholomew (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-09-06 — settled
SEC v. Anthony John Johnson (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-09-05 — judgment
SEC v. Ricardo Bonilla Rojas (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-09-04 — judgment
CFTC v. Charles, The Borrowing Station (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-08-26 $350k settled
OSC v. Kevin Warren Zietsoff (ponzi schemes, 2013) OSC 2013-08-19 — settled
SEC v. Bogar, Young and Green (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-08-02 $780k judgment
SEC v. Jennifer E. Thoennes (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-07-01 $45k judgment
CFTC v. Varlesi (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-06-25 $700k settled
CFTC v. Wright (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-06-24 $1m settled
SEC v. Ward Onsa (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-06-17 — judgment
CFTC v. Hales, Richardson, Bentley Equities (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-06-04 $2.1m judgment
SEC v. Larry Michael Parrish (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-05-24 — settled
CFTC v. William Center, Gregory Center and Trade, LLC (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-05-23 $4m judgment
SEC v. Patrick Merrill Brody (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-05-22 — judgment
CFTC v. Christy, Crabapple Capital Group (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-05-20 — judgment
CFTC v. Harris, Starr, Complete Developments (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-05-13 $7.6m judgment
CFTC v. Schmickle, Q Wealth Management (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-04-23 $1.5m settled
CFTC v. Bailey, Hudspeth, PMC Strategy (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-04-17 $1.4m judgment
CFTC v. 4X Solutions, Chay (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-04-08 $8.2m judgment
SEC v. Sean Nathan Healy (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-04-08 — settled
CFTC v. Cilli, Progressive Investment Funds (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-03-27 — judgment
OSC v. Fernando Honorate Fagundes also known as Henry Roche and New Futures Trading International Corporation (ponzi schemes, 2013) OSC 2013-03-18 — judgment
CFTC v. Ronnie Gene Wilson (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-02-28 $23m judgment
SEC v. James S. Tagliaferri (ponzi schemes, 2013) SEC 2013-02-21 — judgment
CFTC v. unnamed respondents (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-02-06 $1.1m settled
CFTC v. Christy, Crabapple Capital Group (ponzi schemes, 2013) CFTC 2013-01-28 $1.5m settled