Bernardo Mendia-Alcaraz & Toltec Capital LLC SEC Fraud Case
A federal judge shut down Bernardo Mendia-Alcaraz and Toltec Capital LLC after the SEC linked the firm to a $2.2 million investment fraud scheme.
Daniel Reeves
Investigations Editor
Ponzi SchemesFinancial FraudInvestment Scams
About Daniel
Daniel Reeves served twelve years in the FBI's Financial Crimes Section, where he investigated some of the largest Ponzi schemes and investment fraud cases in the southeastern United States. After retiring from the Bureau, he turned to journalism to tell the stories behind the case files — the human cost of financial deception, the psychology of the fraudsters, and the systemic failures that let schemes grow to billion-dollar scale. At ConFraud, he serves as Investigations Editor and brings federal-grade rigor to every piece. He holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and completed the FBI's Financial Crimes Investigator certification.
Articles by Daniel
Robert A. Kasirer's $4.9M Municipal Bond Fraud Scheme
Robert A. Kasirer was permanently enjoined and ordered to pay over $4.9 million for orchestrating municipal revenue bond offering fraud in violation of securities laws.
Michael R. Warren's $628K Fake Insurance Annuity Fraud
Michael R. Warren pled guilty to selling non-existent insurance annuity contracts and misappropriating client funds, ordered to pay $628,107 in California.
Claude W. Savage's $1.4M Securities Fraud and Pyramid Scheme
Claude W. Savage was involved in International Heritage, Inc.'s pyramid scheme that defrauded investors, resulting in a $1.4M penalty for securities violations.
Victor L. Ziller's $125,000 Securities Fraud Penalty
Victor L. Ziller faced securities fraud charges in the Platforms Wireless International Corp. case, resulting in a $125,000 penalty in California.
Amir A. Sardari's $3.4M Clean Energy Investment Fraud
Amir A. Sardari and Narysa Sardari Luddy charged with $3.4M offering fraud through Energy & Environmental Investments in a Ponzi scheme targeting clean energy investors.
Stafford Y.L. Mew's $10M Prime-Bank Fraud Scheme
Stafford Y.L. Mew and four co-defendants sentenced in Western District of Washington for $10 million prime-bank fraud scheme involving wire fraud and money laundering.
Robert R. Parrish's $212K ATM Investment Ponzi Scheme Fraud
Robert R. Parrish and co-conspirators operated a Ponzi scheme involving fraudulent ATM investment contracts and unregistered securities, resulting in $212,077 penalty.
Steven Enrico Lopez, Sr.: $1.1M Penalty in Securities Fraud Case
Steven Enrico Lopez, Sr. faced securities fraud charges in the Central District of California, resulting in over $1.1 million in disgorgement and penalties.
Frederick Harris $75M Prime Bank Scheme - $5.1M Penalty
Frederick Harris and co-defendants orchestrated a $75 million prime bank fraud scheme. The SEC obtained summary judgment, imposing permanent injunctions and penalties.
Betty Ann Rubin: $763K Ponzi Scheme in Oil & Gas Partnerships
Betty Ann Rubin implicated in SEC settlement involving $763,678 disgorgement for Ponzi-like scheme operating through oil and gas limited partnerships.
Robert A. McDonald: $3.8M Penalty in $135M Payphone Ponzi Scheme
Robert A. McDonald faced SEC action for role in $135 million payphone investment Ponzi scheme through Alpha Telcom, resulting in $3.8M penalty and injunction.
Lalaine Ledford: $345M Ponzi Scheme Results in $184M Penalty
Lalaine Ledford was involved in a $345 million Ponzi-like scheme orchestrated by Kevin B. Merrill and others, resulting in significant penalties and restitution.
Ari J. Lauer's $1B DC Solar Ponzi Scheme Enablement
Ari J. Lauer, 61, sentenced to 11 years, 5 months for his role as attorney enabling the DC Solar Ponzi scheme in Eastern District of California.
Texas Man Sentenced to 90 Months for $59.9 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
A Texas businessman will spend more than seven years in federal prison for orchestrating a $59.9 million Medicare fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary orthotic braces, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Indian National Gets 43 Months for Selling Fake Cancer Drug to Undercover Agents
An Indian national received a 43-month federal prison sentence for orchestrating a scheme to sell counterfeit cancer medication to undercover law enforcement agents, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Scott Carpenter Sued in Corrupt Organizations Scheme: The Newport Beach Attorney Accused of Weaponizing the Legal System
A federal RICO complaint accuses Newport Beach attorney Scott R. Carpenter of weaponizing the legal system itself -- seizing a company's bank account through fraudulent wire communications, forging stock certificates for a company that had no stock, assembling perjured declarations, and using the threat of deportation to coerce a settlement from a foreign-born entrepreneur.