News Releases

Sep 14
2021

Texas Stops Sex Offender’s Fraudulent Real Estate Deal

She was prosecuted for aggravated sexual assault of a child and is a registered sex offender. She’s now accused of concealing her past while promoting fraudulent real estate investments. Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles filed an emergency cease and desist order to stop the scheme and protect...
Aug 11
2021

Anyone Can Be Anyone on The Internet Texas State Securities Board Warns About Uptick in Impersonation Schemes

The Texas State Securities Board is warning investors about a growing number of online investment schemes in which bad actors impersonate registered, licensed firms. These impersonation schemes are growing more and more sophisticated as scammers more efficiently leverage technology to defraud the...
Aug 6
2021

Alabama Securities Commission and Texas State Securities Board File Orders Fraudulent Metals Investment Scheme Managed by Defendant on Felony Probation Shuttered

The Alabama Securities Commission (ASC) and Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) issued cease and desist orders against FIRST CLASS WEALTH PRESERVATION, directing it to shut down illegal operations in Alabama and Texas. The ASC order and TSSB order accuse First Class Wealth Preservation of illegally...
Jul 30
2021

Legacy Wealth Advisors

Legacy Wealth Advisors, Inc., a Texas registered investment adviser located in Waxahachie, Texas, consented to the entry of a Disciplinary Order that will require Legacy Wealth Advisors to pay an administrative fine of $15,000. The Disciplinary Order was entered today by the Securities Commissioner...
Jul 27
2021

Recidivist Brad Haycraft Indicted in Helium Well Investment Scheme

Bradley Sherman Haycraft, 48, was indicted by a grand jury in Collin County. He was charged with illegally selling investments in the Petrified Forest Prospect, a helium well project in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. He was recently arrested on the charges. The Securities...
Jul 1
2021

Serial Recidivist’s Joyride Speeds to a Halt

Robert Mangiafico Jr., a 55-year-old resident of Carrollton, was sentenced by the 296 th District Court in Collin County to serve 20 years for evading arrest with a deadly weapon and 63 years for possession with intent to deliver GHB, a controlled substance commonly known as a date rape drug...
Jul 1
2021

Texas Stops Fraudulent Private Equity Scheme

Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an Emergency Cease and Desist Order against Prestige Equity and others accused of illegally offering lucrative investments tied to a private equity fund. According to the order, the parties are claiming investors become limited partners in the private...
Jun 29
2021

Securities Commissioner Issues Two Administrative Orders

Texas Securities Commissioner, Travis J. Iles, entered an order today suspending the license of Dallas-based investment adviser and agent Michael E. Witt for a period of thirty days due to Witt’s inequitable business practices in connection with a former advisor sunsetting program at his prior firm...
Jun 17
2021

Securities Commissioner Stops Fraudster from Impersonating ARK Invest and an ETF Managed by Cathie Wood

ARK Invest and its founder and CEO, Cathie Wood, have been generating considerable attention with their bets on innovative, disruptive technologies. The company is an investment adviser for certain exchange traded funds and registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The ARK Innovation ETF...
Jun 16
2021

Securities Commissioner Stops Illegal Forex Trader Operating in Frisco, Texas

Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an emergency cease and desist order against David A. Grissom and Premier Concepts, accusing them of illegally operating an unregistered forex investment scheme from Frisco, Texas. According to the order, Grissom and Premier Concepts advertised the...