Cases by state
Ponzi schemes in Michigan
34 cases announced 2008–2025, involving about $1.1B in reported investor money. Most common types: investment funds & advisory, trading, forex & commodities and real estate. Listed by where the main defendant was based.
The largest by reported amount: Resort Holdings International ($350M, 2009). Charges are allegations unless a court has entered a conviction or judgment.
Pitch phrases seen in these cases
- “guaranteed high rates of return”
- “surety bonds”
- “stellar investment results”
- “monthly statements showed a profit every month”
- “seventy percent of any profits”
- “77% of the net income of the trucks”
- “high, guaranteed returns, and the safe return of an investor's entire principal”
- “don't touch it, it's good, trust me”
Cases
| Date | Case | Location | Industry | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2025 | Matthew's Woodworking LLC Matthew Mencarelli |
Belmont, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $1.6M |
| Mar 15, 2024 | Titans Timber LLC (Titan Timber) Trent William Witteveen |
Montague, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $2M |
| Jan 17, 2024 | QYU Darren Anthony Robinson |
Detroit, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $100M |
| Jul 6, 2023 | K.E.L. Enterprises Inc. Dwight A. Foster |
West Bloomfield, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $13.2M |
| May 25, 2022 | Andrew M. Middlebrooks | Detroit, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $39M |
| Apr 19, 2022 | CSA Business Solutions LLC Franklin Ray, Joseph Winget |
Canton, MI | Trucking & transport | $40M |
| Oct 8, 2021 | Treasure Enterprise LLC Larry A. Holley, Patricia E. Gray |
Grand Blanc, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $9.3M |
| Sep 5, 2018 | Nonko Trading Christopher D. Eikenberry, Jeffrey E. Goldman |
Birmingham, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $1.4M |
| Sep 18, 2017 | P&R Capital LLC Ernest J. Romer III |
Sterling Heights, MI | Lending & cash advance | $2.7M |
| May 22, 2017 | Apex Wealth Management Paul Garceau |
Grosse Pointe Park, MI | Insurance-linked | $800,000 |
| Nov 17, 2016 | Gino Accettola | Shelby Township, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $3.7M |
| Aug 11, 2016 | American Financial (AMFI), TriLogic, Prestige Benefits Sarah Frances Bolhuis |
Ellsworth, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $7.5M |
| Jun 7, 2016 | New Haven Holdings Scott Rookus |
Jenison, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $1.5M |
| Nov 25, 2015 | Berjac of Portland, Berjac of Oregon Michael Holcomb, Gary Holcomb, Kristen Van Breemen, Jennifer Chalmers |
MI | Insurance-linked | $43M |
| Mar 2, 2015 | Jerry M. Stauffer | Traverse City, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $1.5M |
| May 9, 2014 | David W. McQueen, Trent Francke | Byron Center, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $46.5M |
| Oct 22, 2012 | Mulholland Financial James Mulholland, Thomas Mulholland |
Midland, MI | Real estate | $18.3M |
| Sep 27, 2012 | GetMoni.com Ronald Lee Brito, Bonnie Brito, Thomas Winston Moore, John James Missitti |
Genesee Township, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $25M |
| May 18, 2012 | iStorm Solutions Jeffrey Curtis Folkert |
Holland, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $1.5M |
| Mar 16, 2012 | API Worldwide Holdings LLC Jeffrey L. Ripley, Danny Lee VanLiere |
Sparta, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $9M |
| Feb 6, 2012 | Ahmed Alabadi | Dearborn, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $2M |
| Dec 13, 2011 | Brian Marsack | Chesterfield Township, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $1M |
| May 17, 2011 | CRM Investors Corporation Roger Lee Clark |
Wyoming, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $9.3M |
| Jan 7, 2011 | MuniVest Financial Group, MuniVest Services LLC Dante DeMiro |
Milford, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $7M |
| Aug 6, 2010 | CJ's Financial Candice D. Campbell |
Canton, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $1.1M |
| Jun 17, 2010 | Wealth Resources Inc., Wealth Resources LLC Martin T. Wegener |
Grand Rapids, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $6.5M |
| Mar 26, 2010 | Investor Planning Services Richard Taft Johnson |
Bloomfield Hills, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $13.2M |
| Dec 23, 2009 | Platinum Business Industries Eric Riley Merkle, Jay Vernon Merkle |
Williamston, MI | Energy & alternative assets | $50M |
| Dec 22, 2009 | Resort Holdings International Robert Valeri Sr., Robert Antonio Valeri Jr., Jeffrey Ron Mitchell, Michael Kelly |
South Lyon, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $350M |
| Dec 16, 2009 | Raymond Frank Joseph | Bloomfield Hills, MI | Lending & cash advance | $5M |
| Oct 2, 2009 | E-M Management Co LLC, more than 150 affiliated LLCs Edward P. May |
Lake Orion, MI | Investment funds & advisory | $200M |
| Jul 28, 2009 | BBC Equities LLC, Bravata Financial Group Inc John J. Bravata, Richard J. Trabulsy, Antonio Bravata |
Brighton, MI | Real estate | $50M |
| May 29, 2009 | Kingdom First Trading LLC, Kingdom First Corp Mark R. Hamlin |
Owosso, MI | Trading, forex & commodities | $2M |
| May 8, 2008 | Matthew J. Gagnon, Gregory N. McKnight | MI | Real estate | $72.6M |