Cases by state
Ponzi schemes in North Carolina
42 cases announced 2006–2026, involving about $1.2B in reported investor money. Most common types: trading, forex & commodities, investment funds & advisory and real estate. Listed by where the main defendant was based.
The largest by reported amount: ZeekRewards.com ($600M, 2012). Charges are allegations unless a court has entered a conviction or judgment.
Pitch phrases seen in these cases
- “guaranteed”
- “a successful trader”
- “extraordinarily profitable”
- “monthly emails and quarterly updates showing ever-increasing account balances”
- “their investments were safe and secure”
- “18% to 24%”
- “[u]ncompromising focus on risk management”
- “above market return of greater than 35%”
Cases
| Date | Case | Location | Industry | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2026 | Argent Capital Management LLC Trevor L. Vernon |
Franklin, NC | Crypto & digital assets | $14M |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Greenville Auto World LLC Willard Timothy Sutton |
Greenville, NC | Lending & cash advance | $8M |
| Sep 25, 2024 | Chadley Capital LLC, Chadley Management Inc. (dba Spartan Safe) William Rhew III |
Summerfield, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $20M |
| May 30, 2024 | Tiger Wolf Capital LLC Frank Lynold Mercado |
Charlotte, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $1.4M |
| Aug 8, 2023 | RSF Capital LP Chad Stickforth |
Asheville, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $5.4M |
| Jul 20, 2023 | Steven Andiloro | Mooresville, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $6.1M |
| Jul 12, 2023 | Dream Venture Capital Group LLC Nayeem Choudhury |
Durham, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $9.3M |
| Feb 7, 2023 | Floyd's Insurance Agency, Monthly Payment Plan Joseph W. Floyd IV, William F. Floyd Jr. |
Whiteville, NC | Lending & cash advance | $20M |
| Jan 17, 2023 | Kumar Arun Neppalli | Cary, NC | Real estate | $1.9M |
| May 19, 2022 | WC Private, Wilcox Hybrid, Damon Investments Wynn A.D. Charlebois |
Charlotte, NC | Lending & cash advance | $6M |
| Apr 27, 2022 | D&T Investment Group Austin Delano Page, Brandon Alexander Teague |
Grover, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $4M |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Marlin Hershey, Dana Bradley | Cornelius, NC | Real estate | $4M |
| Apr 19, 2022 | Shawn E. Good | Wilmington, NC | Real estate | $4.8M |
| Mar 7, 2022 | David Schamens | Greensboro, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $6.8M |
| Nov 15, 2021 | Joshua Matthew Houchins | Raleigh, NC | Real estate | $1.8M |
| Aug 14, 2020 | Mark Colin Ramsey | Graham, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $1.1M |
| Aug 3, 2020 | Asset Trader Anthony Wayne March |
Wake Forest, NC | Insurance-linked | $8.1M |
| Oct 17, 2019 | Oodles Inc. Hal H. Brown Jr. |
Asheville, NC | Real estate | $13.5M |
| Dec 21, 2017 | Stephen C. Peters | Raleigh, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $15M |
| Jan 13, 2017 | TSI Holdings LLC Rick Siskey |
Charlotte, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $19M |
| Dec 15, 2016 | DCG Commercial Fund I, DCG Real Assets Richard Wyatt Davis Jr. (aka Rich Davis) |
NC | Real estate | $19M |
| Apr 12, 2016 | Charles Caleb Fackrell | Booneville, NC | Energy & alternative assets | $1.4M |
| Apr 30, 2015 | OTC Investments LLC, Forex Currency Trade Advisors LLC Barry C. Taylor |
Franklin, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $2.4M |
| May 7, 2014 | Smith Advertising & Associates Gary Todd Smith, Gary Truman Smith |
Fayetteville, NC | Lending & cash advance | $63.4M |
| Apr 29, 2014 | Contemporary Benefits Design, Blackburg Financial Harry Patrick Stokes |
Monroe, NC | Insurance-linked | $2.4M |
| Feb 19, 2014 | Ron Earl McCullough, David Christopher Mayhew, Travis Maurice Cox | Raleigh, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $2.3M |
| Dec 19, 2013 | Daniel H. Williford | Statesville, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $44M |
| Jun 25, 2013 | Commodity Investment Group Carl David Wright |
Iron Station, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $1M |
| Apr 30, 2013 | JHM Forex Only Pool, Forex Trading at Home Association James H. Mason |
Graham, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $4.7M |
| Nov 23, 2012 | Harbor Light Asset Management LLC Michael Anthony Jenkins |
Raleigh, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $1.8M |
| Nov 13, 2012 | Omega Property Group Carolyn Grant |
Raleigh, NC | Real estate | $13.6M |
| Sep 13, 2012 | Millennium Bank, United Trust of Switzerland, Sterling Bank and Trust William J. Wise |
Raleigh, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $129.5M |
| Aug 17, 2012 | ZeekRewards.com Paul Burks, Dawn Wright-Olivares |
Lexington, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $600M |
| Apr 12, 2012 | City Capital Corporation Ephren W. Taylor II, Wendy Connor |
NC | Investment funds & advisory | $11M |
| Feb 17, 2012 | Mitchell Brian Huffman | Charlotte, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $3.2M |
| Jul 13, 2011 | Robert S. Moss | Charlotte, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $3M |
| Feb 1, 2011 | James W. Bailey Jr. | Asheville, NC | Real estate | $13M |
| Jan 13, 2011 | Black Diamond Keith F. Simmons, Deanna Salazar, Bryan Coats, Jonathan Davey |
West Jefferson, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $35M |
| Sep 30, 2010 | Integra Capital Management LLC Nicholas T. Cox, Rodney W. Whitney |
Denton, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $3M |
| Sep 15, 2010 | James Edward Whitley | Greensboro, NC | Lending & cash advance | $9M |
| Aug 7, 2009 | Queen Shoals LLC, Queen Shoals II LLC, Select Fund LLC Sidney S. Hanson, Charlotte M. Hanson |
Charlotte, NC | Trading, forex & commodities | $22.5M |
| Feb 27, 2006 | LifeClicks LLC, 12daily Pro Charis Johnson |
Charlotte, NC | Investment funds & advisory | $50M |