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$70 MILLION Recovery for Investment Fraud
$44 MILLION Recovery for Ponzi Scheme Victims
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$9.1 MILLION FINRA Arbitration Award Against Brokerage Firm
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Public Justice

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The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an actor in low-budget movies with running a Ponzi scheme tied to film distribution and licensing agreements that defrauded investors out of over $690 million. Zachary Horwitz, whose screen name is Zach Avery, ran the Ponzi scheme from 2014 to at least December 2019 through his distribution company 1inMM Capital LLC. Silver Law Group is a national securities and investment fraud law firm which represents Ponzi scheme victims in claims against the Ponzi schemer and any third parties who materially participated in the fraud or are otherwise liable under the law. 1inMM Alleged Ponzi Scheme According to the complaint, filed April 5, 2021 in California U.S. District Court, Horwitz and 1inMM issued promissory notes to investors on individual film titles, promising to use the money to purchase distribution rights to a movie, mostly for Latin America, which Horwitz and 1inMM would then sell to outlets like HBO and Netflix at a high profit.  Horwitz sold each note at a per-film principal investment of between $35,000 and $1.5 million, often promising investors a six-to-twelve-month maturity and a 35% to 45% return. One investor, out nearly $9 million, invested in 108 movies with corresponding promissory notes, the SEC complaint says. As a sometimes-film actor, Horwitz sold investors on his film industry experience and connections. The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an actor in low-budget movies with running a Ponzi scheme tied to film distribution and licensing agreements that defrauded investors out of over $690 million. Zachary Horwitz, whose screen name is Zach Avery, ran the Ponzi scheme from 2014 to at least December 2019 through his distribution company 1inMM Capital LLC. Continue reading ›

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On April 5, 2021, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a Complaint against Zachary Horwitz and 1inMM Capital arising from an alleged “offering fraud and Ponzi scheme in violation of federal securities laws.” Among other things, the SEC alleged Horowitz and 1inMM “raised over $690 million from investors by selling promissory notes . . . using fabricated agreements and fake emails with prominent third parties with whom Defendants had no actual business relationship.” The SEC was able to obtain an asset freeze and emergency relief, but investors are now struggling to figure out whether they will receive any meaningful portion of their investments back. Los Angeles-Based Actor Zachary Horwitz Was Alleged Mastermind Of The Ponzi Scheme According to the SEC’s Complaint, Horwitz raised money from investors in the form of promissory notes issued by his company, 1inMM Capital. Regarding the promissory notes, the SEC alleged: Horwitz and 1inMM “represented that 1inMM would use the proceeds from each Promissory Note to finance transactions in which Defendants would: (1) acquire distribution rights in a specific movie; (2) license those rights to a specific media company; and (3) use the profits from these transactions to satisfy the note.” “Horwitz represented to investors that he and 1inMM would profit from these transactions by selling the movie rights to HBO or Netflix at a profit in excess of the profits paid to investors, and that Horwitz and 1inMM would retain this excess.”On April 5, 2021, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a Complaint against Zachary Horwitz and 1inMM Capital arising from an alleged “offering fraud and Ponzi scheme in violation of federal securities laws.” Among other things, the SEC alleged Horowitz and 1inMM “raised over $690 million from investors by selling promissory notes . . . using fabricated agreements and fake emails with prominent third parties with whom Defendants had no actual business relationship.” Continue reading ›

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On February 4, 2021, the SEC charged GPB Capital Holdings, its officials, and other affiliated entities with making material misrepresentations, violating whistleblower laws, and defrauding over 17,000 investors in a $1.7 billion Ponzi-like scheme. In the complaint, the SEC alleges that David Gentile, GPB Capital’s owner and CEO, and Jeffry Schneider, owner of a GPB affiliate called Ascendant Capital, falsely told investors that an 8% annualized distribution payment came exclusively from monies generated by the company’s portfolio companies. In reality, the distribution came from new investor contributions. The SEC also charged Jeffrey Lash, another GPB exec, with manipulating financial statements to further the Ponzi scheme and allege that GPB violated whistleblower laws by including language in its contracts that impeded potential whistleblowers and retaliated against a known whistleblower.On February 4, 2021, the SEC charged GPB Capital Holdings, its officials, and other affiliated entities with making material misrepresentations, violating whistleblower laws, and defrauding over 17,000 investors in a $1.7 billion Ponzi-like scheme. Continue reading ›

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Investors filed multiple Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims against stockbrokers at multiple different brokerage firms. The claims involve allegations of unsuitable investments in GPB Capital Holdings, and negligent due diligence resulting in millions of damages. GPB And Advisor Group In February of 2020, Advisor Group acquired Ladenburg Thalmann and its subsidiaries, including Triad Advisors. Advisor Group already owned SagePoint Financial, Royal Alliance, and other brokerage firms. So with the mounting claims against GBP Capital, Advisor Group now has become one of the many investment firms facing allegations of negligence, misconduct, or fraud by its financial advisors and stockbrokers. Triad Advisors is one of over 60 broker-dealers that sold GPB Capital Holdings investments to its customers. On February 4, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC charged GPB Capital Holdings, its officials, and other affiliated entities with making material misrepresentations, violating whistleblower laws, and defrauding over 17,000 investors in a $1.7 billion Ponzi-like scheme. Investors have filed multiple Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims against stockbrokers at multiple different brokerage firms. The claims involve allegations of unsuitable investments in GPB Capital Holdings, and negligent due diligence resulting in millions of damages. Continue reading ›

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With the Department of Justice’s recent indictment of GPB Capital Holding’s executives, David Gentile, Jeffry Schneider, and Jeffrey Lash, for securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy, it’s abundantly clear that investment fraud is alive and well in the industry. In that case, it is estimated that broker-dealers sold GPB to over 2,000 investors, with losses of up to $1.8 billion. Although investors understand the risks associated with investing, they often aren’t aware of the many avenues available to them to recover their losses if they occurred due to negligence, misconduct, or fraud by financial advisors and stockbrokers. If this is you, here’s what you need to know to recoup your GPB investments. FINRA Mediation Or Arbitration One of the most common pathways to recoup an investment is through a FINRA mediation or arbitration. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) is a government authorized non-profit designed to protect investors by overseeing and regulating U.S. broker-dealers. The government authorizes both the SEC and FINRA to take enforcement actions against broker-dealers who violate the law, including granting monetary awards to investors.With the Department of Justice’s recent indictment of GPB Capital Holding’s executives, David Gentile, Jeffry Schneider, and Jeffrey Lash, for securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy, it’s abundantly clear that investment fraud is alive and well in the industry. Contact Silver Law Group to recover your GPB Losses. Continue reading ›

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No one enjoys losing money on investments. Still, investors can feel even worse if they lost money because they invested in funds that their financial advisor or brokerage firm didn’t properly vet. Investors in GPB Capital Holdings may find that they are facing this exact situation. In parallel actions filed on February 4, 2021, the SEC and the United States Department of Justice charged GPB Capital Holdings, its officials, and other affiliated entities with making material misrepresentations, violating whistleblower laws, and defrauding over 17,000 investors in a $1.7 billion Ponzi-like scheme that lasted more than 4 years. Though the loss of money alone isn’t an indication of bad financial advice, when it comes to investments in GPB, there may be other indications that advisors failed to uphold their fiduciary duties. No one enjoys losing money on investments. Still, investors can feel even worse if they lost money because they invested in funds that their financial advisor or brokerage firm didn’t properly vet. Investors in GPB Capital Holdings may find that they are facing this exact situation. In parallel actions filed on February 4, 2021, the SEC and the United States Department of Justice charged GPB Capital Holdings, its officials, and other affiliated entities with making material misrepresentations, violating whistleblower laws, and defrauding over 17,000 investors in a $1.7 billion Ponzi-like scheme that lasted more than 4 years. Continue reading ›

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Investment fraud is any behavior related to investments that involves outright lies, omissions, or violations of the state or federal securities law. Fraud encompasses a wide variety of scams and behaviors, but at the core, they all involve making markets less fair. Investors who are unlucky enough to be caught up in the scheme may not realize until it’s too late and they have lost considerable money. And, of course, all investors suffer when the market isn’t fair. Financial advisors, issuers, brokers and others make substantial profits from the sale of investments even if an investment is unprofitable or fails to perform. Our investment fraud lawyers help victims of this kind of fraud hold the wrongdoers responsible—and, whenever possible, recover some or all of the money they lost. The Silver Law Group exclusively represents investors in fraud cases. Our attorneys are career securities lawyers and investor advocates. We understand this complex, specialized area of the law very well—and we use that knowledge to fight for your rights.Investment fraud is any behavior related to investments that involves outright lies, omissions, or violations of the state or federal securities law. Fraud encompasses a wide variety of scams and behaviors, but at the core, they all involve making markets less fair. Investors who are unlucky enough to be caught up in the scheme may not realize until it’s too late and they have lost considerable money. Continue reading ›

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Kevin Schaefer (Kevin Joseph Schaefer CRD:# 1286030) is a registered broke and investment advisor currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) of San Francisco, CA. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD#:149777) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:8174), both of San Francisco, and Smith Barney Shearson Inc. (CRD#:7059) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1984. Schaefer is the subject of two currently pending disputes. The first, filed on 6/12/2020, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations.” The client requests damages of $1,000,000. The second, filed on 6/4/2020, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations, failure to follow instructions and misrepresentations from 2012 until 2020.”  The client requests damages of $300,000. Another previous dispute was settled. Filed 5/27/2008, the client alleges that the shares of stock that were purchased were supposed to be auction rate security bonds. The client requested damages of $5,000. Ultimately, the firm agreed to repurchase the ARS securities pursuant to an agreement with “several regulatory bodies.” Schaefer did not participate in the settlement.Kevin Schaefer (Kevin Joseph Schaefer CRD:# 1286030) is a registered broke and investment advisor currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) of San Francisco, CA. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD#:149777) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:8174), both of San Francisco, and Smith Barney Shearson Inc. (CRD#:7059) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1984. Continue reading ›

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Bonitas Research recently published a new report on AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (UAVS) revealing that the company is not all it claims to be, and actively worked to defraud US investors. In its release, Bonitas stated:   “We believe that AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.’s (“UAVS”, “AgEagle”, or the “Company”) was a pump & dump scheme orchestrated by Alpha Capital Anstalt (“Alpha Capital”), AgEagle founder and former chairman Bret Chilcott and other UAVS insiders to defraud US investors.” Based in Witchita, KS, AgEagle is a company that manufactures drones (unmanned aerial systems) and offers drone solutions for a range of different industries, including agriculture. Their website includes a description of their drone delivery work that the company has worked on since 2019. Although Amazon is not specifically mentioned, the web page includes a picture of a non-branded packing box flying under a drone.Bonitas Research recently published a new report on AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (UAVS) revealing that the company is not all it claims to be, and actively worked to defraud US investors.

In its release, Bonitas stated:

“We believe that AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.’s (“UAVS”, “AgEagle”, or the “Company”) was a pump & dump scheme orchestrated by Alpha Capital Anstalt (“Alpha Capital”), AgEagle founder and former chairman Bret Chilcott and other UAVS insiders to defraud US investors.” Continue reading ›

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