PatrickPretty.com

Tag: Colorado Division of Securities

‘Achieve Community’ Issued Cease-And-Desist Order, Accused Of Securities Fraud, Selling Unregistered Securities And Conducting ‘Pure’ Ponzi Scheme In Colorado

BULLETIN: (3rd Update 3:44 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) The Colorado Division of Securities has issued a cease-and-desist order to “Achieve Community” and accused the network-marketing “program” of securities fraud and selling unregistered securities while conducting “a pure Ponzi and pyramid scheme.” The order applies to Achieve, Achieve International LLC, Work with Troy Barnes Inc. and Achieve…

Apr 30, 2015
UFUNCLUB: Securities Division ‘Will Look Into The Extent Of A Colorado Connection’

UPDATED 10:52 A.M. EDT U.S.A. The Colorado Division of Securities said it “will look into the extent” of promotional ties the UFunClub “program” now under investigation in Thailand may have in the state. Whether other U.S. states would follow Colorado’s lead was not immediately clear. Earlier cross-border MLM/network-marketing schemes such as Profitable Sunrise and WCM777…

Apr 22, 2015
SPECIAL REPORT: How The SEC Silently Squared Off Against ‘Achieve Community’ In The Days Leading Up To The Asset Freeze

EDITOR’S NOTE: The personnel information in the first section below is gleaned from public records in the SEC’s pyramid- and Ponzi case against the “Achieve Community” and alleged principals Kristi Johnson and Troy Barnes. Some of the numbered points include additional notes by the PP Blog. These notes are based on public records or information…

Feb 23, 2015
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: SEC Charges ‘Achieve Community,’ Troy Barnes, Kristi Johnson; Federal Judge Approves Asset Freeze

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (17th update 3:07 p.m. ET U.S.A.) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged “Achieve Community” (as Work With Troy Barnes Inc.) and alleged operators Troy A. Barnes and Kristine L. Johnson with operating a combined pyramid- and Ponzi scheme that raised more than $3.8 million. A federal judge in…

Feb 18, 2015
Post Attributed To Troy Barnes In ‘Achieve Community’ Private Forum Claims ‘Achieve Assets Have Been Frozen’

UPDATED 4:36 A.M. ET FEB. 16 U.S.A. “Achieve Community” members this evening are circulating on Facebook a screen shot from a forum post attributed to Michigan-based co-founder Troy Barnes that claims “Achieve’s assets have been frozen.” Members say the post appeared earlier today in Achieve’s recently installed private forum. “I am facing criminal charges,” the…

Feb 14, 2015
‘Achieve Community’ Now Serving Up Spectacle In Which Confusion Reigns; Video On Sign-Up Instructions For Purported New Processor Goes Missing From YouTube, As Report Of New Investigation Surfaces

3RD UPDATE 4:02 P.M. ET U.S.A. The “Achieve Community,” an 800-percent ROI Ponzi-board “program” apparently hamstrung by problems with payment processors, now is serving up a spectacle in which confusion and delay are the only consistent themes. BehindMLM.com reported late last night (or early today, depending on your time zone) that the office of Michigan…

Feb 13, 2015
‘Achieve Community’ Websites Inaccessible

UPDATED 12:20 P.M. ET U.S.A. Two websites associated with the “Achieve Community” — ReadyToAchieve.com and TheAchieveCommunity.com — are inaccessible this morning. Achieve Community is under investigation by the Colorado Division of Securities. The PP Blog asked the Division this morning if it was aware of the outage and whether the inaccessibility of the sites had…

Feb 4, 2015
UPDATE: ‘Bacon’ Program Pushed By ‘Achieve Community’ Hucksters Reportedly Put On Hold By ‘Admin’; Second Program May Be DOA After Purported Payza Freeze

UPDATED 6:20 A.M. ET U.S.A. “BRING THE BACON HOME,” a bizarre Ponzi-board “program” purportedly operated by “Sherilyn” from “Singapore” and pushed on YouTube by Achieve Community hucksters Rodney Blackburn and Mike Chitty, reportedly collapsed during a so-called Beta launch this week and has been put on hold. The “program” purportedly turns $40 into $1,800. Achieve…

Jan 29, 2015
UPDATES: (1) Colorado Boots WCM777; (2) California Didn’t Have To Look Far To Find ‘Program’: State Has Office In Same Building From Which Alleged Multimillion-Dollar Securities Scam Operated

UPDATED 6:33 P.M. ET (U.S.A.) The state of Colorado has issued a cease-and-desist order against the WCM777 “program,” saying the Ming Xu-led enterprise was selling unregistered securities. Ming Xu also is known as Dr. Phil Ming Xu, according to WCM777 promoters. In issuing the C&D, Colorado now has joined at least two other U.S. states…

Jan 29, 2014
Profitable Sunrise Filed ‘No Answer Or Other Responsive Document,’ Colorado Securities Officials Say; HYIP Scheme Was Pitched On Classified-Ad Sites, Research Shows

Profitable Sunrise had come under investigation in Colorado at least by March 8 and was officially notified March 11 that the state suspected it was breaking securities laws, the state Securities Board says in filings this week. Colorado scheduled a hearing for March 25 after learning that Profitable Sunrise also was under investigation in North…

Apr 4, 2013
Colorado Securities Commissioner Tells Durango Herald: ‘They Want So Badly To Believe In The Tooth Fairy’

Joe Hanel, the Denver correspondent for the Durango Herald, has written a series of reports that delves into the symphony of the bizarre surrounding Ponzi schemer Frederick H.K. Baker, who once was immersed in the HYIP world but now is in prison. If you’ve been wondering about the psychology of Ponzi schemes — perhaps particularly…

Feb 6, 2013