Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Fifth Circuit Upholds Conviction of UDF Executives in Securities Fraud Case

Posted on August 10th, 2023 at 11:48 AM
Fifth Circuit Upholds Conviction of UDF Executives in Securities Fraud Case

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

In a recent ruling, the Fifth Circuit upheld the conviction of United Development Funding (UDF) executives on multiple charges of wire and securities fraud linked to their operation of a Ponzi scheme.

The court affirmed that UDF had engaged in fraudulent activities, deceiving over 30,000 investors nationwide and amassing over $100 million through a ten-year-long Ponzi scheme. This scheme revolved around providing loans to housing developers in Texas. In February 2023, the Fifth Circuit declined to release the executives from federal prison during their appeal against their convictions, handed down in May 2022.

DI Wire reported that the four UDF executives had received combined sentences of 20 years in January 2022, as reported by The DI Wire. The CEO, Hollis Greenlaw, was sentenced to seven years, while Partnership President Benjamin Wissink and CFO Cara Obert received five-year sentences each. Asset Management Director Jeffrey Jester was sentenced to three years. Additionally, Greenlaw, Wissink, and Obert were fined $50,000 each.

 

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

 

 

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

We just wanted to say thanks for your work in helping us get back some of the money we lost. We are not by any means rich, but we have saved some money and we have done so through a tight-fisted approach to most everything we do. So losing a significant chunk of money hurt…especially at a time when everyone else was growing their accounts. We really appreciate the work you did.

Allan and Adele

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1789752835 Law
September 18, 2026
SEC Sanctions Investment Adviser and Executive for Disproportionate Trade Allocations

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has determined that the conduct of registered investment advisory firm Barrington Asset Management, and its executive vice-president and chief compliance officer, Gregory Paris, disadvantaged clients and breached their fiduciary duties owed to clients.

1789665543 Law
September 17, 2026
SEC Charges 38 Entities Over Allegedly Fraudulent Adviser Filings

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged 38 entities with allegedly making material misrepresentations in Forms ADV filed with the SEC between 2025 and 2026.

1789589290 Law
September 16, 2026
Edelman Financial Engines Secures TRO Against Advisor Who Joined RFG Advisory

Edelman Financial Engines recently secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Chad A.