2000
On August 23, 2000, a Midland County, Texas grand jury returned 12 indictments against Sherry Keisling and H. Bradley Bertrand for violations of the Texas Securities Act and other violations. Keisling, doing business as Cornerstone Financial in Midland, Texas, sold approximately $1.5 million in certificates of viaticated insurance benefits issued by Financial Federated Title & Trust, Inc., of Lazy Lake, Florida and American Benefits Services, Inc. of Lake Worth, Florida to residents of Midland, Odessa and Big Spring, Texas. Bertrand is alleged to have participated in the scheme while doing business as Cornerstone Financial Agency, Inc. of Blanchard, Oklahoma. American Benefits Services,Inc. and R. Ray Levy were previously ordered to stop selling the securities by the Texas Securities Commissioner in Order Number CDO/Fin-1366. Financial Federated Title & Trust collapsed in September 1999 and the principals of that firm were charged with federal fraud and money laundering.