BitConnect, an investment lending platform for Bitcoin, has suddenly announced that it is shuttering its lending and exchange operation immediately. The company said that its exchange platform would shut down in five days. In a post on its site, BitConnect said that moving forward, it would operate for “wallet service,…
In an Emergency Cease and Desist Order, the Texas State Securities Commissioner is demanding that BitConnect, which is based in the UK, stop a number of its investment programs, as well as its allegedly fraudulent sales of Bitcoin investments. According to the regulator, BitConnect sales agents are targeting prospective Texan…
The SEC has filed fraud charge against Behavioral Recognition Systems, Inc. and its former CEO Ray C. Davis. According to the Commission, the Houston-based technology company, and Davis solicited over $28M from hundreds of investors, diverting over $7.8M to the latter’s personal use. Between 1/2013 and 7/2015, investors targeted in…
An Austin man convicted of Texas securities fraud has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. James Elton Warr was also convicted on other multiple first-degree felonies, including money laundering, theft, and misapplication of fiduciary property in Travis County. According to prosecutors, Warr stole $1.1M from investors who purchased contracts…
James C. Tao, an ex-financial adviser, has settled civil charges accusing him of bilking investors in a private equity fund. It was the US Securities and Exchange Commission that brought the Texas investment fraud charges against him. Among the allegations was that Tao misappropriated investor money and made material misstatements…
The United Development Funding, a beleaguered Texas real estate investment trust accused of running a $1B Ponzi-like scam, is suing a hedge fund manager for the allegedly “false and disparaging” statements that led to the fraud allegations. The REIT came under fire two years ago after an investor website issued…
Texas Investment Adviser Suspend for Violating Earlier Securities Agreement The Texas State Securities Board has suspended investment adviser John Michael McDonough for 90 days after he violated a past agreement that limited his business activities and required 212 Advisory Group to enhance its supervision of him. The undertaking agreement was…
Lawrence Allen DeShetler will serve 60 months in federal prison for Texas investor fraud. The Houston man pleaded guilty to mail fraud earlier this year after he fraudulently solicited $1.9M from five clients. Starting in 2014, the former investment advisor, certified planner, and head of DeShetler & Company started persuading…
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has filed fraud charges against Sandlapper Securities. According to the self-regulatory organization, the small brokerage firm created and sold private placements in saltwater disposal wells in Texas while charging undisclosed markups of up to 270% that eventually totaled over $8M on numerous deals. Also accused…
William Alexander Swell and his 7S Oil & Gas, which is a Texas-based oil and gas company, will pay $750K for allegedly misleading investors about commissions and administrative costs and for misappropriating a significant amount of their money. According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the oil and gas…