The SEC’s complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that a convicted felon and others defrauded investors in PermaPave Companies, a group of firms based on Long Island, N.Y.
About 140 individuals, many working in the construction or landscaping business, invested in the scheme between 2006 and 2010, the SEC alleged. Investors were told that PermaPave Companies had a tremendous backlog of orders for pavers imported from Australia, which could be sold in the U.S. at a substantial mark-up, yielding monthly returns to investors of 7.8% to 33%. In reality, the complaint states that there was little demand for the product, and the cost of the pavers far exceeded the revenue from sales.
The defendant and two other accomplices used new investments to make payments to earlier investors and then siphoned off much of the rest, buying luxury cars, gambling trips to Las Vegas, and jewelry. In addition, the complaint alleges that the defendant used investors’ money to make court-ordered restitution payments to victims of a previous scheme to which he pleaded guilty to conducting in 2000.
The three men were arrested earlier today and criminal charges have been filed.
SEC Files Emergency Action to Halt Green-Product Themed Ponzi Scheme
About 140 individuals, many working in the construction or landscaping business, invested in the scheme between 2006 and 2010, the SEC alleged. Investors were told that PermaPave Companies had a tremendous backlog of orders for pavers imported from Australia, which could be sold in the U.S. at a substantial mark-up, yielding monthly returns to investors of 7.8% to 33%. In reality, the complaint states that there was little demand for the product, and the cost of the pavers far exceeded the revenue from sales.
The defendant and two other accomplices used new investments to make payments to earlier investors and then siphoned off much of the rest, buying luxury cars, gambling trips to Las Vegas, and jewelry. In addition, the complaint alleges that the defendant used investors’ money to make court-ordered restitution payments to victims of a previous scheme to which he pleaded guilty to conducting in 2000.
The three men were arrested earlier today and criminal charges have been filed.
SEC Files Emergency Action to Halt Green-Product Themed Ponzi Scheme
