Securities and Exchange Commission v. Shapiro et al

  1. January 28, 2019

    Woodbridge, CEO To Pay $1B To Settle Ponzi Fraud Claims

    A Florida federal judge has ordered Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC and its former owner to pay more than $1 billion to resolve claims that it operated as a Ponzi scheme involving a complex web of allegedly phony real estate investments and unregistered Florida-based funds, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced Monday.

  2. May 22, 2018

    Woodbridge Settles SEC Claims In $1.2B Investment Scheme

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to settle allegations against a slew of unregistered Florida-based funds called the Woodbridge Group of Cos. LLC, which the agency claimed were used in an alleged $1.2 billion scheme that duped more than 8,400 investors.

  3. March 06, 2018

    SEC Rebukes Ponzi Suspect's Bids To Escape Case, Penalties

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission urged a Florida federal judge Tuesday to deny Ponzi scheme suspect Robert H. Shapiro's bids to dismiss its case or to avoid having to disgorge any ill-gotten gains, describing his argument for the latter as "disingenuous and farcical."

  4. February 20, 2018

    Woodbridge Ponzi Defendant Seeks Toss Of SEC Charges

    Ponzi-scheme suspect Robert Shapiro asked a Florida federal court Tuesday to dismiss the Securities and Exchange Commission's case against him, saying the mortgage notes he sold were not securities.

  5. February 09, 2018

    SEC Seeks Contempt For Accused Woodbridge Ponzi Boss

    Securities and Exchange Commission attorneys sought a contempt of court finding against accused fraudster Robert H. Shapiro late Wednesday, saying in a federal district court motion that Shapiro failed to comply with an order to disclose family trust assets and accounts under his control.

  6. February 08, 2018

    Accused Ponzi Leader Seeks End To SEC's $1B Asset Freeze

    Accused Ponzi scheme architect Robert H. Shapiro asked a Florida federal judge late Wednesday to lift or modify a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission freeze on some $1 billion in assets under his control, citing limitations in a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling and calling the lock-up excessive.

  7. January 12, 2018

    Woodbridge Resets Biz Model During Ch. 11 Control Battle

    Facing a federal securities and Ponzi scheme lawsuit in Florida and demands for a trustee takeover in Delaware bankruptcy court, the Woodbridge Group said Friday that it would shift from reliance on individual investors to institutional financing for its real estate development business.

  8. January 03, 2018

    Fraud Questions Linger In Woodbridge Ch. 11 Trustee Fight

    Attorneys lining up arguments over a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission bid to oust Woodbridge Group's bankruptcy team grappled Wednesday with how to stipulate the scope of the company's alleged $1.2 billion fraud without getting bogged down in details or blowing up claims or defenses.

  9. January 02, 2018

    SEC Slams Exec, Seeks Trustee In $1B Woodbridge Ch. 11

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sought a trustee takeover Tuesday for alleged Ponzi schemer Robert Shapiro's collapsed $1.2 billion Woodbridge Group empire, saying Shapiro's hand-picked managers in the Delaware Chapter 11 case offered only "hollow" claims of independence.