Indiana tries to close loophole that helped Durham commit fraud in Ohio
The legislature is considering a bill that would require intrastate securities offerings to file audited financials, a safeguard that caused trouble for Fair Finance investors.
Securities fraud
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Families sue to recover lost investments
A central Indiana county commissioner, his wife and members of three other families who lost more than $700,000 they invested in businesses state officials say were shell companies are suing two men accused of orchestrating the scheme.
Michigan lawyer claims Indiana prosecution was political
A Michigan attorney claims in a lawsuit that former Indianapolis prosecutor Carl Brizzi and former Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita used unwarranted charges against her in a cemetery theft scheme to enhance their political reputations.
Ex-councilor Bateman agrees to plead guilty to fraud charges
Paul C. Bateman Jr., a former Democrat city-county councilor, agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to 13 counts of money laundering and wire fraud for his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.
Lampoon paid for Durham’s defense, trustee alleges
Fair Finance bankruptcy trustee Brian Bash, charged with recovering funds for Fair investors, alleges in a court filing that National Lampoon funded convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham’s defense. Durham is a former CEO of the film company.
Leader of fraud scheme pleads guilty to 20 counts
Michael Russell faces between 57 and 71 months in prison for defrauding an Indianapolis investor of $1.7 million. Two associates, Paul Bateman, a former City-County councilor, and Manuel Gonzalez, have pleaded not guilty and are set for trial Feb. 11.
Investors let down guard, opening door to Durham fraud
Shouldn’t the 5,100 Ohio investors who lost more than $200 million when Fair collapsed have seen Fair’s lofty interest rates as a red flag?
Successful Durham appeal unlikely, outside lawyers say
Local criminal defense lawyers who tracked the trial of Tim Durham and his accomplices say chances are slim that they would prevail on appeal. One said Durham would have a better chance of winning the lottery.
Durham gets 50 years for fraud scheme
Former Indianapolis businessman Tim Durham was sentenced to 50 years in prison for running a Ponzi scheme that led to the collapse of Fair Finance, costing thousands of investors $250 million. Accomplices Jim Cochran and Rick Snow received 25 years and 10 years, respectively.
Prosecutors: Durham, accomplices deserve life sentences
Saying their crimes were “as serious as any financial fraud crime ever committed,” federal prosecutors re-emphasized Monday their recommendation that Ponzi schemer Tim Durham and his two accomplices deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Durham asks court for five-year sentence
Convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham is requesting a much shorter prison stay than the life sentence federal prosecutors want him to serve. The convicted Ponzi schemer and two associates are set to be sentenced Friday.
Pliant Ohio regulators helped clear path for Durham’s fraud
The Ohio Division of Securities allowed Fair Finance to register investment certificates even after the company stopped providing audited financials and Tim Durham drained more than $100 million from the firm through insider loans.
Indiana businessman admits guilt in 2 fraud plots
An Indiana businessman has pleaded guilty to ripping off an Iowa company and duping investors in separate fraud schemes totaling $2.3 million.
Legal fees nearing $9M in Fair Finance bankruptcy
The trustee in the Fair Finance bankruptcy case and his law firm have run up legal bills approaching $9 million, nearly double the recoveries they've achieved to date for investors victimized by convicted fraudster Tim Durham.
SEC accuses local firm of bilking investors out of $1.7M
The SEC’s complaint accuses three people of committing securities fraud by spending investor funds on luxury automobiles, a motorcycle, a 30-foot boat, college tuition, home renovations, a wedding and a honeymoon in St. Lucia.
Hauke receiver files suit against his former accounting firm
The lawsuit accuses convicted money manager Keenan Hauke’s former accounting firm of negligence for failing to monitor Hauke’s bank accounts, enabling him to use investor funds for his personal use. Hauke was sentenced in March to 10 years in prison.
Durham, 1 partner to be jailed until sentencing
A federal judge has ordered an Indiana financier and a business partner jailed until they are sentenced for swindling investors out of $200 million.
Judge orders Durham, Cochran jailed until sentencing
Convicted Ponzi schemers Tim Durham and James Cochran will be held in a federal prison until sentencing, while accomplice Rick Snow will be confined under home detention, under an order issued Monday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson.
Durham attorney vows to appeal guilty verdict
An attorney for convicted fraud mastermind Tim Durham vowed Thursday to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary to prove his client did nothing wrong.
AUDIO: Wiretaps capture Durham, co-defendants scrambling
A series of government-recorded phone calls have provided some of the most riveting courtroom moments during the fraud trial of Tim Durham and two co-defendants.