Westminster Investment Advisor Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Scheme

Posted on May 16th, 2016 at 4:58 PM
Westminster Investment Advisor Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Scheme

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC:

Jasper Buck, a 60 year old financial advisor from Westminster, Maryland, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for mail fraud arising from a scheme in which Buck stole almost $2 million from clients. He also will be required to forfeit the money he obtained from the victims in addition to paying a restitution fine amounting to over $1 million.

While working for various mortgage companies, Buck admitted to telling victims that he was a representative of Portfolio Financial Group (PFG). He told individuals that PFG would loan money provided by the victims to borrowers who needed funds quickly or who were unable to obtain traditional bank loans and were therefor willing to pay a higher interest rate. Those individuals were put under the impression that there were other owners and employees of PFG. However, bank accounts for PFG list Buck as the sole signatory, and PFG addresses either were his home address or UPS store locations.

The victims were convinced to invest all or a portion of their retirement savings, or to refinance their home mortgages and use lines of credit in order to invest the proceeds with PFG. In turn, Buck stated to the victims that they would receive a monthly payment that would be greater than their monthly loan payment. To conceal the scheme, Buck issued payment to some individuals using the money garnered from others, creating a false sense of consistent financial return. In January, 2014 Buck had exhausted PFG’s account and could not make any more payments, forcing him to falsely claim a number of explanations to investors on why their money would not be returned. 

The attorneys of Eccleston Law LLC represent investors and advisers nationwide in securities and employment matters. Our attorneys draw on a combined experience of nearly 65 years in delivering the highest quality legal services. If you are in need of legal services, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation today.

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: Eccleston, Eccleston Law, Eccleston Law LLC, James Eccleston

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

If you find yourself in trouble with the regulators, call Eccleston Law, you won't regret it.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

April 19, 2024
WealthFeed Raises Funds for AI-Driven Lead Generation Tool

WealthFeed leverages proprietary AI technology to collect nine real-time financial data points, including business sales, capital raises, inheritances, and job changes.

April 18, 2024
SEC Fines Target Off-Channel Communications

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is ramping up its enforcement efforts targeting off-channel communications, particularly text messages, among investment advisory firms.

April 17, 2024
B. Riley Financial Again Delays Filing Audited Results

B. Riley Financial Inc. has encountered a setback in filing its audited results within an extended timeframe, adding to existing pressure amid concerns raised by short sellers regarding its association with a former business partner.