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

SEC Charges California Advisory Firm with Operating a Ponzi-Style Scheme

Posted on October 20th, 2022 at 12:49 PM
SEC Charges California Advisory Firm with Operating a Ponzi-Style Scheme

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged JMJ Capital Group and its president, Richard Ramirez, with fraudulently raising millions of dollars from California-based investors.

According to the SEC, the defendants informed potential investors between 2019 and 2021 that they could earn returns of up to 30% via short-term investments in JMJ Capital, and that the investments could be easily withdrawn at the conclusion of a 30-90 day lockup period. The defendants additionally represented that their capital would be used to purchased receivables and personal protective equipment (PPE), according to the SEC. However, investors struggled to withdraw their investments while the defendants misappropriated investor funds to repay earlier investors in Ponzi-style fashion.

The SEC’s complaint alleged that Ramirez used the stolen money to cover personal expenses as well as to fund the purchases of luxury automobiles, trips to Hawaii, and tickets to Disneyland and Legoland. The defendants generated millions from at least forty California-based investors by making the false representations, according to the SEC. Furthermore, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California has filed criminal charges against Ramirez and JMJ Capital in a parallel action.

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

 


It was really fun seeing you fight for us. You have an amazing way of thinking out of the box.


 

Beth M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1780079651 Law
May 29, 2026
SEC Investigating Fraud Allegations in Private Credit Industry

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) actively is investigating allegations of fraud involving private credit firms, signaling continued regulatory scrutiny of the rapidly expanding sector.

1779992462 Law
May 28, 2026
FINRA Adopts New Rules to Accelerate Arbitration for Elderly and Vulnerable Investors

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has adopted amendments to its Code of Arbitration Procedure to expedite arbitration proceedings for certain eligible parties, according to regulatory updates.

L
May 27, 2026
FINRA Sanctions Cambridge Investment Research for Supervisory Failure in Variable Annuity Exchanges

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured Cambridge Investment Research and ordered the firm to pay nearly $280,000 after finding that it failed to properly supervise variable annuity exchanges, according to AdvisorHub.