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

That is just fantastic! Thank you very much!

Julie N.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1777047237 Law
April 24, 2026
Geopolitical Tensions Prompt Wealth Advisors to Rethink Dubai Strategies

Recent geopolitical developments have forced wealth advisors to reassess client exposure to Dubai, a jurisdiction that has attracted significant ultra-high-net-worth capital over the past decade.

1776963542 Law
April 23, 2026
Advisor Recruiting Surges in 2025 as Industry Movement Reaches New Highs

Advisor movement across the wealth management industry accelerated sharply in 2025, with 11,172 experienced financial advisors changing firms, according to reporting by Wealth Management citing the latest Advisor Transition Report from Diamond Consultants.

1776796402 Law
April 21, 2026
DOL Proposal on Alternative Assets in 401(k)s Faces Cautious Reception

The U.S.