EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an excellent article that appeared in the New York Times today. I am posting it here because it contains some information about some of the new tactics that perpetrators of these schemes are using to avoid detection. They are offering products not typically associated with a Ponzi, such as financial services,… Read more »
Mark Pugsley and Aaron Hinton Prevail on Fraud Case in Third District Court
RQN lawyers Mark Pugsley and Aaron Hinton, together with their co-counsel Kevin Simon of Strachan Strachan & Simon, P.C, won a significant victory after a 5-day trial in Utah State Court. In a detailed opinion issued last week Judge Matthew Bates awarded their clients compensatory damages in excess of $3 million, $2 million in punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. … Read more »
Discussion of Investment Fraud in Utah on KSL’s Sunday Edition with Doug Wright
Editor’s note: I was interviewed on KSL’s Sunday Edition with Doug Wright last week. The discussion about Ponzi Schemes and affinity fraud in Utah happens at 8:18. I appreciate KSL Television’s willingness to engage in a frank discussion about why affinity fraud is a particularly vexing problem here in Utah, and to help get the… Read more »
My Interview with ‘Trib Talk’ on Why Utah is Home to So Many Ponzi Schemes
Editor’s Note: This is an interview I did yesterday for the “Trib Talk” podcast from the The Salt Lake Tribune. The sentencing of convicted fraudster Rick Koerber was delayed — again — this week, adding another chapter to a 10-year legal saga for one of Utah’s most notable Ponzi schemes. But while the Koerber case is… Read more »
Finally It’s Confirmed: Utah Has More Ponzi Schemes Per Capita Than Any State in the Country. By Far.
I frequently speak to groups about investment fraud and one of the questions I often get asked is whether it’s true that Utah has the highest rate of Ponzi schemes and affinity fraud in the country. In the past I haven’t been able to say for sure. There aren’t any good studies that have reached… Read more »
The Growing Problem With Sales of Unregistered Securities
Recently I have been busy working to recover losses for a large number of investors who lost money in unregistered investments offered by Woodbridge and Future Income Payments or FIP. In many cases these investments were recommended by insurance agents who were not licensed to sell securities, and did not perform adequate due-diligence on these… Read more »
BREAKING: Vescor Ponzi Mastermind Val Southwick Has Been Paroled
Val Southwick, who was convicted of defrauding more than $140 million from hundreds of Utah residents, was quietly paroled last month after serving just ten years, according to KSL News. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of securities fraud, each second-degree felonies, and was sentenced to serve anywhere from 9 to 135 years in Utah… Read more »
FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU INVEST
Whether you’re a first-time investor or have been investing for many years, there are some basic questions you should always ask before you commit your hard-earned money to an investment. Question 1: Is The Seller Licensed? Research shows that con-artists are experts at the art of persuasion, often using a variety of influence tactics tailored… Read more »
Broker Imposter Scams: Remember To Ask And Check
Editor’s note: This is re-post of an investor alert that recently appeared on FINRA’s website. This is a good reminder of the need to “trust but verify” the credentials of your investment professional. FINRA recently issued an investor alert on fraudsters impersonating FINRA executives, offering bogus investment “guarantees” to investors as part of an advance-fee scam. But… Read more »
More Legal Trouble for Zane Jeppeson
This is actually the third post I have written about a guy named Zane Jeppeson of Garland, Utah. My prior posts can be found here and here. Today’s update comes to us courtesy of The Leader out of Tremonton, Utah. Apparently Mr. Jeppeson is having a hard time getting his restitution paid and may go… Read more »