News Releases

May 11
2022

Texas Securities Commissioner Files Emergency Action to Stop Russian Scammers Perpetrating Metaverse Investment Fraud

Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles filed an Emergency Cease and Desist Order , in concert with other state securities regulators to stop a fraudulent metaverse investment scheme. The order accuses Flamingo Casino Club of illegally soliciting securitized nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, that...
May 11
2022

Five States File Enforcement Actions to Stop Russian Scammers Perpetrating Metaverse Investment Fraud

Five state securities regulators simultaneously filed enforcement actions against a Russian organization allegedly promoting fraudulent metaverse investments to residents of the United States.  The actions accuse Flamingo Casino Club of perpetrating the scam through the offer of nonfungible tokens, commonly referred to as NFTs, purportedly tied to a metaverse casino. 

Apr 13
2022

What Happens in The Metaverse Does Not Stay In The Metaverse Texas Securities Commissioner Stops Metaverse Casino Securities Scheme

Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an Emergency Cease and Desist Order to stop a fraudulent investment scheme tied to metaverses. The order names Sand Vegas Casino Club, Martin Schwarzberger and Finn Ruben Warnke and accuses them of illegally offering NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, to...
Feb 21
2022

Texas Commissioner Stops Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Mining Scheme

Last month, Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles warned that scams involving cryptocurrencies and digital assets present a top threat to retail investors in 2022 . Today, Commissioner Iles brought an action to stop this type of scam—a fraudulent cryptocurrency mining investment scheme targeting...
Feb 14
2022

Texas State Securities Board Joins with Other State Regulators to Settle with Digital Asset Lending Platform BlockFi for $50 Million for Sales of Unregistered Securities

The Texas State Securities Board announced that a digital-asset financial services company, BlockFi Lending LLC (BlockFi), agreed to settlement terms regarding past unregistered offers and sales of securities to Texas residents. The securities were in the form of interest-bearing digital asset...
Jan 10
2022

Texas State Securities Board Announces Top Investor Threats for 2022

The Texas State Securities Board [TSSB] today released an annual list of top investor threats and urged caution before purchasing popular and volatile unregulated investments — especially those involving cryptocurrency and digital assets. TSSB also announced guidance for investors, including steps...
Nov 10
2021

X Does Not Mark the Spot: Commissioner Stops Treasure Growth Investments from Fraudulently Offering Cryptocurrency Cloud Mining Investments in Texas

November 10, 2021. Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an emergency cease and desist order against Treasure Growth LLC aka Treasure Growth Investments, a cryptocurrency cloud mining firm that claims to be organized in Oregon and located in Florida. The order also names Juliet Gilbert, its...
Nov 3
2021

What Happens In Las Vegas Stays In Las Vegas… Unless It’s a Fraudulent Gambling Investment Scheme Targeting Texans.

On November 3, 2021, Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an emergency cease and desist order against Paganelli Enterprises, LLC, Christopher Dino Paganelli and AP Hedge. According to the order, the parties are located in Las Vegas but have been fraudulently soliciting Texas residents to...
Nov 2
2021

Risky Whiskey - Securities Commissioner Stops International Investment Scheme

Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an emergency cease and desist order to stop an illegal international whiskey investment scheme. The order names Whiskey & Wealth Club Limited, a firm based in England and Scotland, as well as its principals and sales agents. According to the order...
Oct 29
2021

Former Registered Securities Professional Entered a Plea to Securities Fraud and other Crimes

On October 29, 2021, Derrick R. Trussell (CRD No. 5197550) entered a plea of no contest to securities fraud, securing execution of a document by deception and misapplication of fiduciary property in Cause No. 2019-CR-5767B, in the 175th Judicial District Court of Bexar County, Texas. Trussell was...