Cases by state
Ponzi schemes in Missouri
17 cases announced 2009–2026, involving about $172.1M in reported investor money. Most common types: investment funds & advisory, real estate and agriculture & cattle. Listed by where the main defendant was based.
The largest by reported amount: Martin T. Sigillito, James Scott Brown, Derek J. Smith ($52.5M, 2011). Charges are allegations unless a court has entered a conviction or judgment.
Pitch phrases seen in these cases
- “10–15% return on their principal investment after 30, 60, or 90 days”
- “falsely led to believe”
- “five year interest bearing note”
- “guaranteed 5% return”
- “municipal bonds”
- “tax-free and risk-free”
- “a quick turnaround on their investment with interest rates as high as 12 percent”
- “net returns greater than 20 percent”
Cases
| Date | Case | Location | Industry | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 2026 | Trevor Uhls LLC, Midwest Homes Trevor Uhls |
Lee's Summit, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $2.1M |
| Jan 21, 2026 | Siddharth Jawahar | St. Louis, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $35M |
| Aug 6, 2025 | Johnson & Niswonger Financial Resources LLC James Johnson (aka Jim Johnson), Darrell Niswonger |
Perryville, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $6M |
| Jun 11, 2021 | Douglas A. Richardson CPA LLC Douglas A. Richardson |
Lebanon, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $8.8M |
| Mar 10, 2021 | AIS Travel Matthew R. Peterson |
Kansas City, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $6M |
| Apr 3, 2018 | 5A Holdings LLC Cameron J. Hager |
Clinton, MO | Agriculture & cattle | $4.7M |
| Aug 10, 2017 | Lebanon Aviation Service Inc Paul David Ward |
Camdenton, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $707,000 |
| Sep 14, 2015 | Hanson Holdings LLC Christopher Hanson |
Springfield, MO | Real estate | $1.1M |
| Sep 19, 2012 | Grahame Rhodes | St. Louis, MO | Trading, forex & commodities | $2.1M |
| Mar 8, 2012 | Advisors Capital Holdings Inc. Richard Saunders |
St. Louis, MO | Insurance-linked | $6M |
| Feb 1, 2012 | Safety Solutions USA LLC Ronald W. Shepard |
Lee's Summit, MO | Real estate | $3.2M |
| Jun 27, 2011 | R&K Angus Ranch Kevin Ray Asbury |
MO | Agriculture & cattle | $8M |
| May 4, 2011 | Martin T. Sigillito, James Scott Brown, Derek J. Smith | Webster Groves, MO | Real estate | $52.5M |
| Mar 3, 2011 | Coral Mortgage Bankers Corporation, Woodbury Financial Services Inc Joshua Gould, David Rubin |
University City, MO | Real estate | $5M |
| Sep 18, 2009 | The Money Tree, Gestalt Group Ltd Neal A. Jackson |
Kirksville, MO | Investment funds & advisory | $1.4M |
| Aug 14, 2009 | The Duncan Group Aaron Duncan |
St. Charles, MO | Real estate | $2.5M |
| Jul 20, 2009 | T.J. Gieseker Farms and Trucking, T.J. Gieseker Trucking LLC Cathy M. Gieseker |
Martinsburg, MO | Agriculture & cattle | $27M |