John Elway Among Victims To Receive Distributions In $147 Million Ponzi Scheme

The court-appointed receiver tasked with recovering assets for victims of a $150 million Ponzi scheme has announced that victims, including former NFL star John Elway, may soon share in a $10 million distribution from recovery efforts.  Receiver C. Randel Lewis has filed a distribution plan in a Colorado court that, if approved, will return approximately 16% of each allowed claim.  The mastermind of the scheme, Sean Mueller, is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering, fraud, and theft charges.  

Mueller was the owner of Mueller Capital Management ("MCM"), which operated the Mueller Over Under Fund (the "Fund").  After forming the Fund in 2000, Mueller began soliciting investors to purchase interests in the Fund under the guise that Mueller's day trading strategy could generate risk-free annual returns of 12% to 25%.  In offering documents distributed to investors, Mueller represented that he would hold dozens of positions long and short, and would also use options trading to increase his returns.  Mueller also bragged that he had never suffered a monthly loss since he began trading.  Mueller sought to give off an aura of exclusivity by telling potential investors that he was very selective with accepting clients while simultaneously recruiting members of a top Denver-area country club.  From 2000 to 2010, at least 145 investors entrusted over $147 million with Mueller.

In early 2010, Mueller's operation began unraveling.  In mid-April, investors received several ominous emails from Mueller in which he confessed the fraud, claimed that only he was responsible, and that he felt "like there are no good options left."  Shortly after the first email was sent, police responded to calls that Mueller was threatening to commit suicide by jumping off a parking garage.  A second email was sent automatically using a time delay function. After police talked him out of suicide, Mueller was subsequently arrested.  

An investigation by authorities found that, despite his claims of never suffering a monthly loss, Mueller suffered heavy trading losses in 2008 and 2009. However, rather than disclose these losses to investors, Mueller allegely lived a life of luxury that included the purchase of multiple homes, expensive cars, personal living expenses, and memberships in exclusive country clubs.  By April 2010, Mueller's cash on hand was tens of millions of dollars less than customer liabilities.  

Following Mueller's arrest, it was disclosed that the scheme's investors included several high-profile figures, including John Elway and Blaine Rollins, a former money manager at Janus Capital Group Inc.  Elway was revealed to be the scheme's largest investor, having invested a total of $15 million on behalf of himself and his business partner with Mueller and later having a net claim of $9 million after accounting for withdrawals.  With the distribution, Elway stands to receive approximately $1.44 million, while Rollins stands to receive approximately $561,000 on a $3.5 million claim.

A copy of Mueller's arrest warrant is below:

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Appeals Court OK's $67 Million Verdict Against TD Bank For Rothstein Ties

An appellate court has affirmed a $67 million verdict obtained by victims of Scott Rothstein's $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme against banking giant TD Bank, upholding what is likely the only decision to impose liability on a banking institution for aiding and abetting a Ponzi scheme.  The U.S Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit entered an order denying not only TD Bank's post-trial motions but also the imposition of sanctions against the bank for discovery violations deemed "simply incredible" by the trial judge.  While the 11th Circuit affirmed the verdict on all grounds, it did acknowledge that the unprecedented recovery by the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee presented a possibility of a "double recovery" that could be addressed by the trial court.

TD Bank had extensive ties with Rothstein, who promised investors the possibility of significant short-term returns through purported confidential settlements with whistleblowers and sexual harassment victims. To convince investors of the legitimacy of his operation, Rothstein claimed that the amount of the alleged settlements had already been deposited into TD Bank trust accounts administered by Rothstein's law firm and which were subject to strict transfer restrictions.  Investors were provided with "lock letters" by TD Bank vice president Frank Spinosa attesting to the fact that the transfer restrictions were, in fact, in place and that the claimed balance was correct.  However, there were no such transfer restrictions, and Rothstein was able to transfer funds freely.  Additionally, rather than containing the significant balance represented in the "lock letter," many accounts contained nominal $100 balances.  

Coquina, which is a Texas investment partnership, invested nearly $38 million with Rothstein based on these representations.  The partnership made several withdrawals during the course of its relationship with Rothstein, and ultimately lost nearly $7 million when the scheme collapsed.  However, despite its losses, Coquina was informed by the court-appointed trustee that it faced claims for the "clawback" of certain withdrawals made before the scheme's collapse.  Coquina ultimately settled with the trustee, paying $12.5 million and agreeing that the trustee could recoup up to $18.6 million if Coquina prevailed in its suit against TD Bank.

At trial, a federal jury found in favor of Coquina on its aiding and abetting and fraudulent misrepresentation claims, and awarded $32 million in compensatory damages and $35 million in punitive damages for a total award of $67 million.  Following the verdict, the trial judge also imposed sanctions against TD Bank and its counsel for the failure to produce relevant evidence that reflected unfavorably on the bank.  

On appeal, TD Bank raised several issues, including the propriety of drawing an adverse inference against Spinosa's invocation of his Fifth Amendment rights during testimony, whether the settlement agreement between Coquina and the trustee was properly admitted into evidence, and whether Coquina's damages claim was proper.  The Court addressed each contention, and ultimately found each unpersuasive.  Finally, the Court agreed that the trial court's imposition of sanctions, including accepting as true that TD Bank has actual knowledge of the fraud and that its account-monitoring systems were unreasonable, were consistent with the facts in the record.

While the ruling is clearly a win for Coquina, the Court did address the issue of a potential "double recovery" that has been the subject of a TD Bank post-trial motion seeking a reduction in the verdict.  The issue arises from the fact that Coquina could potentially receive $25 million not only from TD Bank pursuant to the verdict, but also by virtue of the trustee's allowance of Coquina's $25 million claim in the bankruptcy estate.  Due to the trustee's announced liquidation plan providing for the unprecedented 100% recovery by victims, this could potentially present a situation where Coquina could achieve a double recovery.  While the Court observed that a Rule 60(b) motion was pending in the trial court and could be addressed at the appropriate time, it did suggest that

 If the district court determines that a reduction in compensatory damages is appropriate, the court should also consider whether a proportionate reduction of punitive damages is required. 

A copy of the Order is below:

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Please Nominate Ponzitracker For ABA Journal's Blawg 100 List

The ABA Journal is again soliciting submissions for its eighth annual Blawg 100 - a collection of the 100 best legal blogs on the internet as determined through reader submissions.  Ponzitracker was honored to be selected as part of ABA Journal's Blawg 100 for 2013.  If you've found Ponzitracker to be helpful over the past two years, whether as a resource or news source, it would be greatly appreciated if you could take a few minutes to submit a "friend-of-the-blawg brief" to ABA Journal nominating Ponzitracker.  That form is available here.

When Ponzitracker was formed in 2011, the mission was simple: to provide a free and comprehensive resource for those interested in tracking the (increasing) proliferation of Ponzi schemes, both nationally and worldwide.  The site is able to provide unique insight into the subject matter due to the editor's role as counsel to the Receiver in one of Florida's largest Ponzi schemes.  Since then, Ponzitracker has published over 800 articles, provided Ponzi scheme rankings and resources, and launched the most comprehensive and free database of legal briefing for those involved in Ponzi scheme litigation.  In the past year, Ponzitracker also published the Ponzi Database, which features a detailed database of all Ponzi schemes unveiled over the past five years.  Best of all, these features have been offered free of charge since inception, as well as without any distracting advertising.  The site is usually updated daily, and serves as an authority on everything related to Ponzi schemes.  

With that said, Ponzitracker humbly requests that you consider nominating the site as one of ABA Journal's top 100 legal blogs.  To ensure unbiased submissions, ABA Journal prohibits any form of self-promotion and relies on reader submissions.  Ponzitracker will be filling out its own friend-of-the-blawg briefs for several of its favorite blogs, and invites you to do the same.  Just remember - submissions are due before August 8, 2014 at 5:00 P.M.

Second Florida Cop Sentenced For Rothstein Ties

A former Broward County detective was sentenced to serve a year and a day in federal prison for his role in carrying out a wrongful arrest of a south Florida woman at the direction of convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein.  Jeff Poole, 49, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights, and could have received a maximum ten-year term.  Federal sentencing guidelines called for a prison sentence ranging from 18 months to 24 months.  

Poole was a Broward County detective in 2009 when he received a call from Lieutenant David Benjamin, a trusted Rothstein confidant who often moonlighted as Rothstein's private security.  Benjamin told Poole to pull over the wife of Doug Bates, a Rothstein colleague, and arrest her for a bottle of unmarked prescription pills that would be found in her purse.  Poole carried out Benjamin's instructions, with Bates' wife ultimately serving 18 hours in jail before she was released.  The charges were later dropped when it was revealed that the unmarked medication was nothing more than medicine for her autistic child.  

While Poole was not accused of having knowledge of Rothstein ordering the arrest, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate civil rights for carrying out Benjamin's instructions to make an illegal arrest.  Benjamin was also charged in connection with the incident, and he was sentenced earlier this week to serve a five-year prison term.  Bates, who once worked with Rothstein, is currently serving a five-year prison term for writing opinion letters on his law firm letterhead to vouch for Rothstein's scheme.  At least 15 individuals have faced criminal charges for their connections to Rothstein, with more charges expected.

TelexFree Founders Indicted On Fraud Charges

A Massachusetts grand jury indicted TelexFree co-founders James Merrill and Carlos Wanzeler on multiple fraud charges in what authorities have alleged was a massive Pyramid/Ponzi scheme that may have defrauded victims out of hundreds of millions of dollars.  Merrill and Wanzeler were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and eight counts of wire fraud.  Each wire fraud count carries a maximum twenty-year prison term as well as monetary penalties.  The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of tens of millions of dollars, real estate, and luxury vehicles and watercraft belonging to the two men.  Merrill is currently in custody after his arrest in early May, while Wanzeler remains a fugitive and is believed to be in Brazil.  

The indictment does not appear to contain any new revelations, alleging that Wanzeler and Merrill operated TelexFree as a Pyramid and Ponzi scheme that took in hundreds of millions of dollars from victims who were promised substantial returns through minimal efforts.  Authorities allege that TelexFree's compensation system incentivized the recruitment of new investors to the scheme, and that Merrill and Wanzeler made deceiving statements to induce new investors.  This included promotional and instructional videos that were distributed through social media and at conferences known as "evtravaganzas."  

Three TelexFree entities filed a late-night bankruptcy on April 13, 2014, two days before both the Massachusetts Securities Division and the Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil complaints accusing the company of operating as a massive fraud.  The Nevada bankruptcy court where the bankruptcy cases were initially filed later transferred the cases to Massachusetts on the motion of the government, thwarting TelexFree's hopes that it could use the bankruptcy as a way to fend off regulators and reorganize the company.  A court-appointed bankruptcy trustee recently stated in court filings that TelexFree "engaged in a Pyramid or Ponzi scheme."

The indictment contains a lengthy list of assets the government seeks to forfeit as proceeds of the crimes, including tens of millions of dollars in bank accounts and cashier's checks.  Additionally, the government seeks to forfeit several dozen parcels of real estate located in Massachusetts and Florida, as well as the following motor vehicles:

• 2014 BMW X6;
• 2013 BMW X5;
• 2013 BMW Z4;
• 2009 Ferrari 430;
• 2013 Porsche Boxster;
• 2013 Toyota Highlander; 
• 2007 Sea Ray 40 Motor Yacht; and 
• 2003 Maxum boat.

According to a report from Patrick Pretty, these assets appear to be the "small real estate empire" prosecutors allege Wanzeler purchased using investor funds.

The indictment is below (special thank you to ASD Updates):

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