NEWS/UPDATES: Feds Say $900 Million Nevin Shapiro Ponzi ‘Perfect Example Of Greed Run Amok’; Colorado Charges Bela Geczy, Michael Kass With Racketeering In Fraud Case
The acts of Nevin Shapiro — a Florida man arrested in New Jersey yesterday on charges of orchestrating a $900 million Ponzi scheme — represent a “perfect example of greed run amok,” an FBI agent said. Separately, a grand jury in Colorado has charged two men under the state’s organized-crime statute with operating an $18 […]
U.S. Marshals, FBI, Police Capture Ponzi Figure Who Ducked Sentencing; Michael Derrick Peninger Returned To Jail Amid Reports He Cut Transmitter On Electronic Monitoring Device
Michael Derrick Peninger was captured yesterday, nine days after he failed to show up for sentencing court in a South Carolina Ponzi scheme case. Authorities said he cut the transmitter on an electronic monitoring device he was ordered to wear prior to fleeing April 12. A federal magistrate judge jailed Peninger yesterday after he was […]
BULLETIN: Another Spectacular Florida Ponzi Case Emerging; Nevin K. Shapiro Charged Criminally, Civilly In Alleged $900 Million Fraud
BULLETIN: Nevin K. Shapiro, the founder and president of Capitol Investments USA Inc., surrendered to authorities this morning after being charged both criminally and civilly in an alleged $900 million Ponzi and fraud scheme in south Florida and elsewhere, the SEC said. Shapiro, 41, is a prominent Miami Beach businessman and philanthropist in the wholesale […]
4 Ponzi Probes Spotlighted In Seattle; Cases Involve ‘Phony Business Plans’ With Sports Tickets, Point-Of-Sale Machines, Oil Fields, Aircraft Parts
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you’re keeping a “Bubba Blue” notebook on the various ways to serve up a Ponzi scheme — as opposed to shrimp — these Ponzi investigations in Washington state might deserve an entry. The story below encapsulates four major cases. It also includes a link to the charging document in the Rhonda Breard […]
Utah Ponzi Auction Features Wildebeest, Hyena, ‘Full Body African Lion,’ Other Exotic Animals; Event Expected To Draw Large Crowd And Help Recover Some Losses
America’s Ponzi culture now has spawned a taxidermy auction from “assets recovered in one of the largest alleged Ponzi fraud cases in Utah,” according to website of the auctioneer. Among the items up for bid are a “full body African lion,” Cape Horn buffalo, African antelope and hyena, wildebeest and other exotic animals. Forty-three firearms […]
Man Whose Company Supplied Debit Cards To AdSurfDaily Wanted By INTERPOL In International Money-Laundering Case; Robert Hodgins On The Lam
The man who supplied debit cards to the AdSurfDaily autosurf is wanted by INTERPOL on an arrest warrant issued by U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, the international police agency says on its website. INTERPOL has published two photographs of Robert Hodgins, 65. People with information on Hodgins are urged to contact the […]
FINRA/SEC Move Against New York Firm; Second Major Case In 24 Hours; Clients Suspect Colossal Ponzi Fraud At McGinn, Smith & Co.
Another investigation into allegations of spectacular financial fraud is under way in New York. The case against McGinn, Smith & Co. of Albany is the second to rock the state in the past 24 hours. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) filed a complaint against the company and its president David L. Smith yesterday. The […]
FIVE ARRESTED: SEC Says Bogus Stock-Tips Website Faked Testimonial From George Soros; Gryphon Holdings Inc., Kenneth E. Marsh, Others Charged With Operating ‘Sham’
BULLETIN: Five people have been arrested in New York on charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud. Their preliminary court appearances are occurring now — and the allegations in the case are spectacular. Separately, the SEC has gone to federal court in New York to obtain an emergency court order freezing the […]
Former Enron Prosecutor Chosen To Direct Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force; Website Debuts
The executive director of the newly created Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force is a veteran federal prosecutor who served on the team that shined the light on the spectacular fraud of Enron Corp. and gained the convictions of former executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling in 2006. Meanwhile, the Task Force now has its own […]
Another HYIP Pushed By ASD Members Now DOA; Cypriot, Canadian Securities Regulators Issue Warnings About Genius Funds; Regulator Seeks Criminal Probe
Regulators in Cyprus have referred Genius Funds for criminal investigation and released a warning that the company “[is] not permitted to provide investment and ancillary services in the Republic.” Genius Funds, a darling of the HYIP world, was heavily promoted on the Ponzi boards. The program also is known as Genius Investments. The program was […]
Federal Judge Delays Ruling In INetGlobal Case, Saying Attorney May Be ‘Primary Fact Witness’; Sends Case Back To Magistrate Judge
UPDATED 8:29 A.M. EDT (APRIL 18, U.S.A.) Despite Internet and email claims yesterday and today by supporters of INetGlobal that the company had won a key battle with prosecutors, that the case was “over” and that news about the litigation engulfing the company “is better than anything we expected,” an order and memorandum by a […]