News & Publications

News Releases

Jun 7
2022

Investment – Overvalued and Up in Smoke: Securities Commissioner revokes investment adviser for fraudulent overvaluing scheme

Earlier today, Texas Securities Commissioner, Travis Iles, entered an order revoking the investment adviser registration of Swiftarc Capital, LLC (“Swiftarc Capital”), ordering the firm and its Managing Director, Siddarth Jawahar, to cease and desist from engaging in fraud. Since September 2019...
May 25
2022

Frisco Real Estate Developer Sentenced to Serve 45 Years In Prison, Pay $30 Million In Restitution For Fraudulent Investment Scheme

On May 24, 2022, Phillip Michael Carter was sentenced to serve 45 years in state prison by the 296th District Court of Collin County, Texas. The sentence was the result of recent convictions for perpetrating a real estate investment scheme that victimized more than 330 individuals, most of whom...
May 18
2022

Austin Man Sentenced for Hotel Investment Fraud Scheme

Today an Austin man was sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,052,366.92 in restitution for his role in a fraud scheme. According to court documents, from 2012 until June 2018, Jason Michael Schubert, 47, devised a scheme to bilk hotel investors out of millions of dollars...
All News Releases

Enforcement Actions: Administrative

Aug 11
2022

Notice of Hearing filed against Alexander Mashinsky

The Notice of Hearing was filed at the State Office of Administrative Hearings. For inquiries contact Joe Rotunda, Director of Enforcement, by email at jrotunda@ssb.texas.gov or by telephone at 512-305-8392.
Jul 12
2022

Order No. REG22-CAF-01

In the Matter of the Dealer Registration of StartEngine Crowdfunding, Inc.:  Reprimanded and Fined

Jul 7
2022

Order No. ENF-22-CDO-1864

In the Matter of Whiskey& Wealth Club Limited aka Whiskey & Wealth Club aka Whisky & Wealth; Scott Sciberras; William Fielding; Alex Mook; Richard Falconer; and Benjamin Dunlop: Agreed Order Setting Aside Emergency Order 

All administrative actions

Enforcement Actions: Criminal & Civil

Oct 29
2021

Former Registered Securities Professional Entered a Plea to Securities Fraud and other Crimes

On October 29, 2021, Derrick R. Trussell (CRD No. 5197550) entered a plea of no contest to securities fraud, securing execution of a document by deception and misapplication of fiduciary property in Cause No. 2019-CR-5767B, in the 175th Judicial District Court of Bexar County, Texas. Trussell was...
Oct 28
2021

Warning to Victims of Rare Earth Exploration LLC, Bradley Sherman Haycraft and Timothy Taylor

The Texas State Securities Board is warning investors in Rare Earth Exploration LLC about a fake financial settlement scam involving the Gordon Black & Associates Law Firm and International Corporate Entity Inc. Scammers claiming to be employees of Gordon Black & Associates are contacting investors...
Oct 15
2021

Larry Steve Bassett - Indicted

On October 15, 2021, a grand jury sitting in Lee County, Texas, indicted Larry Steve Bassett for first-degree securities fraud, theft and money laundering. The charges relate to his alleged unlawful sale of investments in a trading program to 15 victims for approximately $1.5M. Bassett is accused of...
All civil & criminal actions

Publications

Texas Investor Guide Cover

Texas Investor Guide

Strategies for Investing Wisely and Avoiding Financial Fraud

Nest Egg, IRA, 401k, Money

Everyone's Investment Guide

A six-part online presentation covering Making Investments, the Principles of Investing, Investing for a Secure Retirement, Planning Withdrawals, and Avoiding Scams.

Cover

Financial Field Manual

A Personal Finance Guide for Military Families

All publications