Articles Posted in Ponzi Scams

Ex-Oppenheimer John Woods Sentenced In $110M Horizon Private Equity III Scam

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers Are Continuing To Investigate Investor Losses

John J. Woods, a former Oppenheimer & Co. financial advisor who was caught defrauding hundreds of investors in a $110M Ponzi scam, is now sentenced to nearly eight years in prison. The ex-Georgia broker pleaded guilty to wire fraud last year. He has been ordered to pay up to $49.6M in restitution.

Are You Still Waiting To Recoup Your Losses In The Alleged GWG Ponzi Scam?

Our Skilled Ponzi Fraud Lawyers Are Continuing to Sue Brokerage Firms On Behalf Of Investors

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas team of Ponzi Fraud Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) recently filed another three FINRA lawsuits over investor losses sustained related to GWG L Bonds. The claimants include:

Customers Were Sold Private Equity Shares By Ex-Georgia Broker and Southport Capital Investment Adviser John Woods 

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel in Atlanta has ordered Oppenheimer & Co. to pay several investors $36.7M in the wake of losses sustained in the alleged $110M Horizon Private Equity III Ponzi Scheme. The investment fraud was allegedly run by its former Georgia stockbroker John Justin Woods for several years, including while he was under the firm’s supervision. This award is six times what the claimants had sought. 

The investors had originally asked for punitive damages and $6M in compensatory damages after accusing the firm of broker-dealer negligence, and other claims, as well as of violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Accused of Defrauding Investors, Including Retirees

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against former Morgan Stanley financial advisor Shawn Edward Good accusing him of operating a years-long Ponzi scheme and misappropriating millions of dollars from customers. 

Shawn Good is accused of raising at least $4.8M from five clients at the firm, including retirees and a single mom with young children, to supposedly invest in low-risk, tax-free bonds and land development projects. 

Boca Raton Insurance & Financial Services Firm Accused of Ponzi Scam

Many senior investors say that Seeman Holtz failed to pay out millions of dollars upon the maturity of their investments.

These investors contend that they had expected to make an interest of up to 8% yearly and garner fixed return rates of up to 18%. These investors bought $10K to $10M of “secured promissory notes” through National Senior Insurance and several affiliates

Founder Faces Charges Over $1.8B Ponzi Scam and Wants GPB Capital to Pay His Legal Fees

Beleaguered private equity firm GPB Capital Holdings is back in the news. This time its founder and former CEO, David Gentile, is suing the company in Delaware Chancery Court. 

Gentile, who is facing criminal, civil fraud, and conspiracy charges related to the over $1.8B Ponzi scam that GPB is accused of perpetuating, wants his legal defense fees paid for and not out of his own pocket.

Ex-Texas Financial Advisor Allegedly Killed An Investor While Operating a Ponzi Scam

Keith Todd Ashley, who was fired by Parkland Securities in October 2020 and is charged with murder, is now also facing Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) charges.

FINRA filed its complaint in December 2021 and is alleging that Ashley took part in undisclosed business activities, misappropriation, and engaged in private securities transactions from February through October 2020. During this entire time, Ashley was a registered representative with Parkland Securities. 

Former New Jersey Financial Advisor Allegedly Targeted Florida Doctors

James Alan Seijas, an ex-Wells Fargo Clearing Services broker, was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) beginning November 2, 2021. The former New Jersey investment advisor did not provide information in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) investigation into his alleged involvement in an over $33M Ponzi scam.

Seijas, ex-UBS broker Michael Ackerman, and general surgeon Quan Tran are accused of running a cryptocurrency scam that targeted mostly Florida doctors through the entity Q3 Trading Club from 2017 to 2019. This would have been during Seijas’ time as a Wells Fargo registered representative. 

Deceased New York Broker Philip Incorvia May Have Defrauded Investors 

A retired couple living in Florida has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against broker-dealer Henley & Co. over losses they suffered while working with Philip Robert Incorvia as their registered financial advisor. Incorvia, who died in August 2021, was a registered representative with the firm for over 15 years until his passing. He also ran Jefferson Resources, Inc. in Shoreham, New York.

Our Ponzi fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are speaking with investors who suffered losses while working with ex-Henley & Co. broker Philip Incorvia. He may have defrauded more than 15 East Coast investors in his alleged Ponzi scheme. 

Former Georgia Financial Advisor Allegedly Ran Ponzi Scheme Through Southport Capital 

On August 20, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed an emergency action seeking to stop a $110 million Ponzi scheme allegedly operated by ex-Oppenheimer stockbroker, John Justin Woods.  

The fraud, involving Horizon Private Equity III, LLC was run through Woods’ registered investment advisor Livingston Group Asset Management Company, (doing business as Southport Capital). On August 24, 2021, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against Woods and Horizon.

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