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Articles Posted in Ponzi Schemes

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NBC 6 in Miami recently published an article about the alleged MJ Capital Funding Ponzi scheme and how to spot Ponzi schemes and other investment fraud. Silver Law Group represents victims of MJ Capital through a class action lawsuit, and routinely represents victims of Ponzi schemes and investment fraud. The article details the experience of Gilmer Bautista, who was looking for a way to earn extra money when someone on social media told him about MJ Capital Funding, which operated out of a Pompano Beach, FL tax office. Batista was told he could earn incredible monthly returns on his principal by investing in MJ’s merchant cash advance business. He eventually handed over $45,000. He hasn’t gotten his money back and now the SEC accuses MJ Capital of operating a Ponzi scheme. In August, 2021 the SEC put out a press release stating that it had filed an “emergency action and obtained a temporary restraining order, an asset freeze, and the appointment of a receiver to stop an alleged Ponzi scheme and misappropriation of investor proceeds perpetrated by Coral Springs, Florida resident Johanna M. Garcia and two entities she controls.”NBC 6 in Miami recently published an article about the alleged MJ Capital Funding Ponzi scheme and how to spot Ponzi schemes and other investment fraud. Silver Law Group represents victims of MJ Capital through a class action lawsuit, and routinely represents victims of Ponzi schemes and investment fraud. Continue reading ›

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As part of an ongoing investigation into a Ponzi scheme involving five individuals and ten affiliated companies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed fraud charges in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The court also issued a temporary restraining order against all of the defendants. This includes an order freezing assets of some of the defendants and an order appointing a receiver over the assets of the defendants. The SEC's complaint was filed under seal on December 1st, 2021, and later unsealed. In it, the SEC describes multiple defendants including five individuals that were affiliated with Heartland Group Ventures LLC, Heartland production and Recovery, LLC., and others affiliated with Heartland. The SEC is requesting a jury trial. Silver Law Group represents victims of these types of frauds frequently pursuing claims against the financial advisors, insurance agents and unregistered brokers who sell these investments to small and retail investors.  Unfortunately, there has been a rise in claims against unregistered financial advisors selling unregistered securities which, in many cases, turn out to be Ponzi schemes. As part of an ongoing investigation into a Ponzi scheme involving five individuals and ten affiliated companies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed fraud charges in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The court also issued a temporary restraining order against all of the defendants. This includes an order freezing assets of some of the defendants and an order appointing a receiver over the assets of the defendants. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is headquartered in Coral Springs/Parkland, Florida and represents Ponzi scheme victims nationwide. Our securities and investment fraud attorney’s frequently meet with investors in our offices to discuss how we can help recover investment losses. Parkland Talk’s recently featured a story about a local resident who allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme in south Florida and the impact it has had on residents. The story is summarized below. Would you consider investing in something if it came from the soccer coach of your child or grandchild?  For 61-year-old Gil J. Peter, having preschool children and coaching soccer and flag football was an excellent marketing method for his alleged fraudulent Ponzi scheme. Peter’s “income” from his version of the Ponzi paid for his high-flying lifestyle at the expense of several parents. Some of the victims have children with serious illnesses and were looking for a way to increase their income to help pay medical expenses. Peter offered them a “one percent investment” in a medical clinic in New Jersey. However, it didn’t take long for the “investors” to discover that they lost money in a Ponzi scheme.Silver Law Group is headquartered in Coral Springs/Parkland, Florida and represents Ponzi scheme victims nationwide. Our securities and investment fraud attorney’s frequently meet with investors in our offices to discuss how we can help recover investment losses. Parkland Talk’s recently featured a story about a local resident who allegedly operated a Ponzi scheme in south Florida and the impact it has had on residents. The story is summarized below. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group’s Coral Springs headquarters serves as home base for many of our attorneys and support staff. Scott Silver, managing partner of Silver Law Group, is licensed to practice in Florida and New York and is proud to establish a leading securities and investment fraud law firm in Coral Springs. Centrally located between Palm Beach and Miami, our attorney’s have easy access to the federal courts throughout south Florida. We represent investors in securities and investment fraud cases to recover losses due to stockbroker misconduct, fraud, and Ponzi schemes. Our work is frequently featured in the Palm Beach Post, Sun Sentinel and other Florida publications and we are proud to help ponzi scheme victims throughout Florida. Our firm takes most cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients don’t have to pay us up front and nothing is owed unless we recover your money for you. If you have investment losses, call us toll free at (800) 975-4345 or email ssilver@silverlaw.com. Silver Law Group helps investors in south Florida and around the country. We have satellite offices in Boca Raton and New York, and our main office is in Coral Springs, Florida. Scott Silver, Silver Law Group’s managing partner, is a graduate of the University of Miami Law School. A popular guest lecturer, Scott frequently speaks at Law Schools, trial bar functions and elsewhere about preventing Ponzi schemes. Scott currently serves as Chairman of the American Association of Justice Chair for Securities and Financial Fraud.Silver Law Group’s Coral Springs headquarters serves as home base for many of our attorneys and support staff. Scott Silver, managing partner of Silver Law Group, is licensed to practice in Florida and New York and is proud to establish a leading securities and investment fraud law firm in Coral Springs. Continue reading ›

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Scott Silver was interviewed by The Palm Beach Post for an article about Seeman Holtz, a Boca Raton insurance company accused of swindling over 1,000 investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars with the sale of unregistered promissory notes. Seeman Holtz is alleged to be a Ponzi scheme, is unable to pay its obligations, and has liabilities that exceed its assets. The company is now under the control of a corporate monitor and Scott Silver’s firm, Silver Law Group, represents investors who purchased the promissory notes, many of whom are South Florida-based retirees. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation has investigated Seeman Holtz and filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Co-founder Marshal Seeman, chief financial officer Brian Schwartz, and Seeman Holtz and related companies are accused of misconduct such as securities fraud.Scott Silver was interviewed by The Palm Beach Post for an article about Seeman Holtz, a Boca Raton insurance company accused of swindling over 1,000 investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars with the sale of unregistered promissory notes.

Seeman Holtz is alleged to be a Ponzi scheme, is unable to pay its obligations, and has liabilities that exceed its assets. The company is now under the control of a corporate monitor and Scott Silver’s firm, Silver Law Group, represents investors who purchased the promissory notes, many of whom are South Florida-based retirees. Continue reading ›

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When a person or entity runs any type of fraud, they generally go to great lengths to disguise their activities from the financial institutions to avoid fraud detection. Many banks have the power to put a stop to any illegal activity that involves their institution to avoid regulatory trouble. Wells Fargo is facing a lawsuit for failing to stop illegal activity to prevent a fraud. Four investors filed suit on Friday, August 23, 2021, allege that a recently discovered Ponzi scheme used accounts at Wells Fargo Bank. Additionally, the bank did nothing and allowed the scheme to continue defrauding investors. The plaintiffs accuse Wells Fargo of “aiding and abetting” the scheme. The Securites And Exchange Commission (SEC) has also become involved, filing its own lawsuit against the company committing fraud.   MJ Capital Funds, MJ Taxes And More Headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, MJ Capital Funding claimed to offer “merchant cash advances” to small businesses to help them with cash flow. Touting a “simplified 4 step process,” the company’s website says it helps small and medium sized businesses who needed funding.When a person or entity runs any type of fraud, they generally go to great lengths to disguise their activities from the financial institutions to avoid fraud detection. Many banks have the power to put a stop to any illegal activity that involves their institution to avoid regulatory trouble. Wells Fargo is facing a lawsuit for failing to stop illegal activity to prevent a fraud. Continue reading ›

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On August 13, 2021, a FINRA arbitration panel ordered Respondent HighTower Securities LLC to fully refund its investor-customer’s purchases of GPB Automotive Portfolio LP and GBP Waste Management LP, which the investor had made in reliance upon the advice and recommendations of HighTower Securities. That investor presented substantial evidence to the FINRA arbitration panel that HighTower Securities failed in its obligations to conduct adequate due diligence regarding GPB Capital and its affiliates. The SEC has charged GPB Capital and its affiliates with running a “Ponzi-like” scheme that raised approximately $1.8 billion. Much of that total was invested in the following funds: GPB Holdings, LP / GPB Holdings Qualified, LP GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP GPB Holdings II, LP GPB Waste Management, LP / Armada Waste Management, LP Financial advisors such as HighTower Securities LLC are being found responsible for investors’ GPB losses based upon evidence that they failed in their obligations to adequately investigate GPB and/or turned a blind eye to red flags concerning GPB’s finances and business operations when recommending GPB funds to their clients. Broker-dealers are supposed to recommend only suitable investments to their clients and perform due diligence on the products they sell. FINRA-registered brokers and firms are subject to arbitration to resolve disputes.On August 13, 2021, a FINRA arbitration panel ordered Respondent HighTower Securities LLC to fully refund its investor-customer’s purchases of GPB Automotive Portfolio LP and GBP Waste Management LP, which the investor had made in reliance upon the advice and recommendations of HighTower Securities. That investor presented substantial evidence to the FINRA arbitration panel that HighTower Securities failed in its obligations to conduct adequate due diligence regarding GPB Capital and its affiliates. Continue reading ›

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The SEC has sued investor John J. Woods of Marietta, GA, over allegations that his company, Southport Capital Investment, were running a Ponzi scheme called Horizon Private Equity. In its petition, the SEC requested a temporary restraining order to stop Woods from continuing to operate both his company and the Horizon investment fund. As with other Ponzi-style schemes, investors were told that that their investments would bring 6% to 7% rates of return, and funds not used to pay previous investors. More than 400 investors in 20 different states, many of them elderly, have invested in Horizon, expecting that kind of return. Unfortunately, those who have received “returns” were simply paid from the inflow of funds from newly acquired investors. Wood is the president and majority owner of Southport, which is registered with the SEC as Livingston Group Asset Management Company, Inc. According to filings, he operates the company from his Marietta base and maintains 17 offices in nine states with remote employees, managing over $824 in investments for the firm’s client base. Woods’ brother and cousin are also involved in the company.The SEC has sued investor John J. Woods of Marietta, GA, over allegations that his company, Southport Capital Investment, were running a Ponzi scheme called Horizon Private Equity. In its petition, the SEC requested a temporary restraining order to stop Woods from continuing to operate both his company and the Horizon investment fund. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is representing clients who invested in Seeman Holtz promissory notes, which were sold primarily to senior investors. The company has not paid the insurance-policy backed notes when they matured. On Friday, June 11, 2021, partner and co-founder Eric Holtz died by suicide in California. In a press release, the company announced Holtz’s death, but denied that it was related to the pending lawsuits. The suits were filed on June 7th, and company was notified of the lawsuits on June 14th. The company had previously claimed it could not repay investors due to “financial problems.” Seeman Holtz has recently auctioned its property and casualty insurance business, Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty. Additionally, public records state that Seeman Holtz received $4,269,400 in PPP funds on April 7th, 2020. "Our clients were told to invest every dollar they had in the world with these investments. I've spoken to investors who had from $100,000 to $10 million invested with Seeman Holtz and they are panicking," said Scott Silver, Silver Law Group’s managing partner.Silver Law Group is representing clients who invested in Seeman Holtz promissory notes, which were sold primarily to senior investors. The company has not paid the insurance-policy backed notes when they matured.

On Friday, June 11, 2021, partner and co-founder Eric Holtz died by suicide in California. In a press release, the company announced Holtz’s death, but denied that it was related to the pending lawsuits. The suits were filed on June 7th, and company was notified of the lawsuits on June 14th. Continue reading ›

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