As Zeek Apologists Solicit Funds And Plant Seed They’ll Sue SEC, Guest Columnist Asks, ‘Whose Lawyer Is This Anyway?’
DISCLOSURE: Gregg Evans, a longtime member of the antiscam community, is a longtime PP Blog contributor. He was not compensated for this column, and his views are not necessarily the views of the PP Blog. Whose Lawyer Is This Anyway? By Gregg Evans A group of Zeek Rewards’ affiliates claim they have retained SNR Denton [...]
POST-ZEEK GUEST COLUMN: Who Are These ‘Experts’ Anyway?
DISCLOSURE: Gregg Evans, a longtime member of the antiscam community, is a longtime PP Blog contributor. He was not compensated for this column, and his views are not necessarily the views of the PP Blog. Who are these “Experts” anyway? By Gregg Evans Troy Dooly is the latest “expert” to look like an utter fool [...]
BULLETIN: SEC Says Boston Church Scammed By Fraudster While Dual Probes Were Under Way; Federal Judge Freezes Assets Of Arnett L. Waters; A.L. Waters Capital LLC And Moneta Management LLC Also Charged
BULLETIN: Arnett Lanse Waters, 62, of Milton, Mass., was “permanently barred” on March 9 “from association with any” Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member for failing to provide testimony” in a FINRA probe, the SEC said. This ban occurred after Waters — in 1993 — was “censured and barred for two years by the New York [...]
BULLETIN: Federal Judge Signs Order That Bars Convicted Attorney Gregory Bartko From Representing Defendants In ‘Billionaire Boys Club’ Ponzi Case In Michigan
BULLETIN: John Bravata, the subject of the “Billionaire Boys Club” Ponzi scheme case in Michigan brought by the SEC, will have to go shopping for a new attorney. U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson of the Eastern District of Michigan has barred Atlanta-based attorney Gregory Bartko from representing Bravata, citing Bartko’s conviction earlier this month [...]
Pyramid Scheme Operated From Building Known As ‘One Pyramid Center’; Pennsylvania AG Says; Universities, Nonprofits Swindled In Alleged Caper With Offshore Tentacles
Four Pennsylvania residents have been charged in an alleged pyramid-scheme caper that gathered more than $7.5 million and bilked universities, nonprofits, local governments and other clients, investigators said. Charged in the case were Brian James Murray, 67, of Scranton; Murray’s wife, Diane D. Murray, 66; Christine M. Oliver-Shean, 51, of Scranton; and Oliver-Shean’s husband, Timothy [...]
DEVELOPING STORY: Scott Rothstein To Plead Guilty In $1.2 Billion Ponzi Scheme
BULLETIN: Scott Rothstein, the Fort Lauderdale attorney charged with racketeering last month and disbarred amid allegations he orchestrated a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme involving bogus legal settlements, is expected to change his plea to guilty.
THE PONZI CHILL: In Weeks Prior To Exposure Of $1.2 Billion Scheme, Scott Rothstein Threatened Journalist With Lawsuit, Newspaper Says
In what is becoming a familiar refrain in the Ponzi universe, former Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein threatened a Florida newspaper and one of its reporters in the weeks prior to the exposure of his $1.2 billion fraud, the Sun Sentinel reported. The Sun Sentinel identified the reporter as Brittany Wallman. “Am I not making [...]
Yet Another Senior Citizen Guilty In Ponzi Scheme That Targeted Fellow Seniors; Crime Was ‘Ruthlessly’ Executed, NJ Attorney General Anne Milgram Says
A New Jersey financial adviser who created a sham company and operated it for 17 years has pleaded guilty to five felony counts of mail fraud, federal prosecutors said. Separately, state prosecutors announced a guilty plea to a felony charge of money-laundering. Maxwell B. Smith, 69, of Fairhaven, operated a Ponzi scheme that consumed more [...]
BREAKING NEWS: Secret Service Feared Bowdoin Would Flee Country After Moving Money Offshore And Relinquishing His Interest In Golden Panda Ad Builder
The U.S. Secret Service feared AdSurfDaily President Andy Bowdoin had become aware of scrutiny into his business affairs and planned to flee the country, according to a 37-page affidavit originally filed under seal in the case. Meanwhile, the affidavit revealed that a key Secret Service investigator in the case formerly was a member of a [...]
OBTAINED: Copies Of ASD Seizure Warrant, ‘Freeze’ Order
ANNOUNCEMENT 7:21 P.M. ET (U.S.A.): The PatrickPretty.com Blog has obtained copies of seizure warrants, warrant returns and “freeze” orders in the alleged AdSurfDaily Ponzi scheme. The warrants are part of the forfeiture case against ASD’s assets. They were filed under seal Aug. 1, 2008 — the same date a note appeared on the ASD website [...]
Federal Judge Issues Restraining Order, Asset Freeze In Alleged Mantria Ponzi Scheme; Video Featuring President Obama, Former President Clinton And World Business Leaders Pulled From ‘Speed Of Wealth’ Website
In a day of notable irony, the Obama administration announced the creation of an Interagency Financial Fraud Task Force led by the Department of Justice. Critical support functions will be provided by the Treasury Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Securities and Exchange Commission. One of the first cases the new [...]