Wisconsin Man Charged in $15.8 Million Ponzi Scheme Disguised as Investment Advisory Business

Posted on July 14th, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Wisconsin Man Charged in $15.8 Million Ponzi Scheme Disguised as Investment Advisory Business

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Federal authorities have charged a Wisconsin man with orchestrating a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 120 investors over six years. According to a Department of Justice announcement, Stanley Pophal solicited over $15.8 million by falsely posing as a successful businessman and offering guaranteed-return promissory notes.

While self-described as an "investment advisor" by prosecutors, Pophal was not registered with either the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Financial Advisor News reports that he operated outside regulatory oversight, running what authorities now allege was a classic Ponzi operation.

Prosecutors claim Pophal assured investors their money would be safely invested with fixed returns. In reality, most of the funds went toward financing his extravagant lifestyle, including the purchase of more than 300 collectible snowmobiles and race cars. To perpetuate the scheme, Pophal allegedly used new investor funds to make payments to earlier investors, creating the illusion of legitimate returns.

Court filings revealed Pophal falsely claimed ties to a wealthy Wisconsin family and presented himself as a multimillionaire to boost his credibility with victims. None of those claims proved legitimate.

 

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

The work that you and your team have performed on my behalf is exemplary.

JT

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

November 7, 2025
FINRA Suspends Former Wells Fargo Broker Over Unapproved Real Estate Venture

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended former Wells Fargo broker George J. Cairnes for four months and fined him $25,000 for engaging in unapproved real estate outside business activity, according to a settlement letter issued.

November 6, 2025
Former Ameriprise Broker Ordered to Pay $2.2 Million for Elder Exploitation

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ordered Eric A. Dupre to pay nearly $2.2 million in damages to his former firm and two customers following allegations of theft and elder exploitation.

November 5, 2025
Former Wells Fargo Representative Suspended for Unauthorized Texting and Obstruction

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended former Wells Fargo representative Eyan M. Townsend for one year and fined him $10,000 for using personal text messages to conduct business and attempting to obstruct an internal investigation by deleting those communications.