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

Former Broker Indicted for $9.7M Ponzi Scheme Involving Fake Bond Investments

Posted on August 25th, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Former Broker Indicted for $9.7M Ponzi Scheme Involving Fake Bond Investments

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Federal authorities have indicted former securities broker Edwin Emmett Lickiss Jr., 77, on wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly orchestrating a $9.5 million Ponzi scheme involving at least 50 investors.

ThinkAdvisor reports that Lickiss continued soliciting investors through Foundation Financial Group even after the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended his license in 2014 for failing to report tax liens. He ultimately lost his broker’s license in 2016 but allegedly continued offering fraudulent investments until at least September 2024.

Prosecutors claim that Lickiss misled investors by promising access to government and other fictitious bonds that he described as secure, tax-free, and capable of earning unusually high interest rates. He provided fraudulent promissory notes and created the illusion of legitimacy through fabricated investment tracking and periodic “lulling” payments, falsely labeled as interest, using funds taken from new investors.

ThinkAdvisor reports that the indictment also states that Lickiss failed to disclose his FINRA suspension and subsequent loss of licensure to investors—omissions that materially misrepresented the nature of the investment and his qualifications. Prosecutors allege that he used the misappropriated funds for personal expenses, including mortgage payments, travel, home renovations, and credit card bills.

The SEC has filed a parallel civil complaint against Lickiss, alleging even broader misconduct. According to the SEC, from 2018 through August 2024, Lickiss raised approximately $12.7 million from around 80 investors through fraudulent notes offering interest rates between 9 and 32 percent.

 

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

I am so glad I found you! Wow! I appreciate your help, concern and guidance.

RB

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1792610544 Law
October 21, 2026
FINRA Fines and Suspends Former LPL Broker Over Undisclosed Customer Settlement

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) fined former LPL Financial broker Gregory W.

1792523173 Law
October 20, 2026
FINRA Orders American Portfolios to Pay $1.6 Million Over Unit Investment Trust Supervision Failures

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has ordered American Portfolios, the broker-dealer later absorbed into Osaic, to pay more than $1.6 million in restitution and fines over failures to supervise financial advisors who repeatedly recommended that customers sell unit investment trusts (UITs) before maturity.

1792432258 Law
October 19, 2026
FINRA Bars Former LPL Broker Over Alleged $1.7 Million Customer Theft

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred former LPL Financial broker Rudy Anguiano after finding that he converted more than $1.7 million from two customers, according to AdvisorHub.