Federal Prosecutors Charge Hedge Fund Manager For Ponzi Scheme

Posted on May 18th, 2023 at 1:11 PM
Federal Prosecutors Charge Hedge Fund Manager For Ponzi Scheme

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

A former Chicago-based commodities trader, Phillip Galles, has been charged with a single count of wire fraud for allegedly misappropriating $2 million after informing clients that the funds would be invested in commodity futures. 

Prosecutors allege that Galles did not invest the funds in commodity futures and instead operated a Ponzi scheme, in which Galles used new investor money to pay off earlier investors as well as cover personal expenses. Additionally, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed suit against Galles in federal court in Chicago. Galles allegedly informed potential clients that his firm, Tyche Asset Management, employed numerous former Goldman Sachs employees, and had “in the U.S. $275 million under management, and $1.7 billion offshore”, according to the CFTC.

Furthermore, Galles falsely informed investors that Tyche had multiple offices and more than 100 employees. In one instance, a Texas mortgage professional wired Galles $100,000 to invest, according to the CFTC. However, Galles instead transferred $19,300 to a personal credit card bill, $14,800 to a jewelry store, $10,000 to an earlier investor, $9,000 to a mattress store, $6,000 to a luxury car company, and $3,200 to his girlfriend, according to prosecutors.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents financial advisors and investors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I just received this letter from the CFP Board. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

David Y

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 29, 2025
FINRA Foundation Study Reveals Alarming Investor Susceptibility to Fraudulent Offers

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) has released preliminary findings from its upcoming report, Investors in the United States: A Report of the National Financial Capability Study.

October 28, 2025
UBS Seeks Court Order Against $1.4 Billion Florida Advisory Team Over Client Solicitation Allegations

UBS Wealth Management USA has filed a lawsuit and requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a $1.4 billion advisory team that recently departed to join Elevation Point, a West Palm Beach-based registered investment advisor launched just 15 months ago.

October 27, 2025
FINRA Panel Orders Charles Schwab to Pay Damages Over Structured Product Losses Sold by Vora Wealth Management

A three-person FINRA arbitration panel ordered Charles Schwab & Co. to pay $165,440 in compensatory damages to a former client of Vora Wealth Management, after losses tied to complex structured products.