Boston – Financial Treason & Crime

Department of Justice, 07 May 2021

BOSTON – A New York man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to heroin and fentanyl possession and distribution charges.

James De La Cruz, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 6, 2021. Continue reading “Article: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking”

03/27/2021

Article: A Fidelity Bitcoin ETF Would Be Everyone’s Gain—But Grayscale’s Pain

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A Fidelity Bitcoin ETF Would Be Everyone’s Gain—But Grayscale’s Pain

Jeff John Roberts, 27 March 2021

This time it’s different.

For years, Bitcoin companies have been banging on the SEC’s door in hopes of launching a Bitcoin ETF—only to have the agency reply with a hard no. But now one of the companies at the door is the mighty Fidelity Investments, and that’s likely to be a game changer.

In case you missed it, the Boston-based financial giant dropped paperwork this week to create an ETF (exchange-traded fund) called the Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust—a name some say is derived from the Japanese kanji for Satoshi Nakamoto. If approved, Fidelity’s Bitcoin fund would be traded as shares on public stock exchanges alongside the company’s other ETFs dedicated to bonds, blue-chip stocks and other assets.

If this comes to pass, it would be a huge win not just for Fidelity but for everyone who owns Bitcoin. The approval of a Bitcoin ETF would add another sheen of legitimacy to cryptocurrency and, more importantly, it would lead to a flood of new investment from both retail and institutional clients. All of this would likely cause the price of Bitcoin to moon, as they say. Continue reading “Article: A Fidelity Bitcoin ETF Would Be Everyone’s Gain—But Grayscale’s Pain”

03/25/202103/27/2021

Article: FD Funds Management Backed by Fidelity Files for Bitcoin ETF with SEC

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FD Funds Management Backed by Fidelity Files for Bitcoin ETF with SEC

Steve Muchoki, 25 March 2021

Fidelity Investments, an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts, through its subsidiary FD Funds Management has filed for a Bitcoin ETF with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. According to Form S-1 filed by Fidelity Investments, the ETF will be called Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust, if the SEC approves it.

Notably, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission has rejected two other applications for a Bitcoin ETF. According to the commission, Bitcoin is a very volatile asset that may put investors’ capital at risk.

However, with already two Bitcoin ETFs approved in the Canadian market, there are high chances the United States will move towards considering a similar move. Furthermore, more institutional investors are showing the will to hold digital assets as a hedge against the deflationary fiat currencies. Continue reading “Article: FD Funds Management Backed by Fidelity Files for Bitcoin ETF with SEC”

03/24/202103/25/2021

Article: Eight Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and Money Laundering Conspiracy

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Eight Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and Money Laundering Conspiracy

District of Massachusetts, 24 March 2021

BOSTON – Eight people were charged in federal court in Boston in connection with an investigation into a Boston-based fentanyl and cocaine trafficking and money laundering organization.

According to charging documents, a year-long wiretap investigation revealed that the defendants, who were directly connected to a poly-drug trafficking organization operating in Mexico, were actively distributing fentanyl and cocaine and laundering drug proceeds on behalf of a Mexican organization.

“All eyes have been on the COVID pandemic, but the opioid epidemic continues to kill thousands of people in Massachusetts each year,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “Prosecuting drug traffickers who profit off of addiction and desperation is essential to save lives, protect the vulnerable and make communities safer. On behalf of all our federal partners, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of the Massachusetts State Police in this case. Their investigative skills and commitment to teamwork made this result possible.” Continue reading “Article: Eight Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine and Money Laundering Conspiracy”

05/20/201203/13/2021

Article: Heist of the century: Wall Street’s role in the financial crisis

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Heist of the century: Wall Street’s role in the financial crisis

Charles Ferguson, 20 May 2012

Bernard L Madoff ran the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, operating it for 30 years and causing cash losses of $19.5bn. Shortly after the scheme collapsed and Madoff confessed in 2008, evidence began to surface that for years, major banks had suspected he was a fraud. None of them reported their suspicions to the authorities, and several banks decided to make money from him without, of course, risking any of their own funds. Theories about his fraud varied. Some thought he might have access to insider information. But quite a few thought he was running a Ponzi scheme. Goldman Sachs executives paid a visit to Madoff to see if they should recommend him to clients. A partner later recalled: “Madoff refused to let them do any due diligence on the funds and when asked about the firm’s investment strategy they couldn’t understand it. Goldman not only blacklisted Madoff in the asset management division but banned its brokerage from trading with the firm too.” Continue reading “Article: Heist of the century: Wall Street’s role in the financial crisis”

10/25/201003/25/2021

Article: UPDATE 1-SEC, Connecticut charge fund manager with fraud

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UPDATE 1-SEC, Connecticut charge fund manager with fraud

Jonathan Stempel, 25 October 2010

NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) – A Connecticut hedge fund firm was sued on Monday by U.S. and state regulators for allegedly inflating the value of its holdings, allowing it to fraudulently collect millions of dollars of undeserved fees.

Southridge Capital Management LLC and its Chief Executive Stephen Hicks, 52, were sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Connecticut Banking Commissioner Howard Pitkin over their management and financial reporting of several funds.

The SEC said Hicks falsely valued Southridge’s largest holding, speech recognition company Fonix Corp, at $30 million or more based almost entirely on a 2004 transaction in which Fonix bought two companies from an entity he controlled.

It also said Hicks raised $78.9 million over the 2004 to 2007 period after falsely promising investors that more than 75 percent of assets would be put in liquid investments or cash.

Connecticut alleged the overvaluing of fund assets allowed Ridgefield-based Southridge to fraudulently collect more than $26 million in fees from 2004 to 2007. Continue reading “Article: UPDATE 1-SEC, Connecticut charge fund manager with fraud”