Cases by state
Ponzi schemes in South Carolina
14 cases announced 2008–2025, involving about $540.2M 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: Future Income Payments LLC ($300M, 2019). Charges are allegations unless a court has entered a conviction or judgment.
Pitch phrases seen in these cases
- “pool money”
- “provide loans and other financing to film projects”
- “backed by a low-risk investment program”
- “little risk”
- “strictly underwritten”
- “consistently generating positive returns”
- “very short-term equity trading”
- “a successful forex trader”
Cases
| Date | Case | Location | Industry | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2025 | Film Holdings Capital, Hollywood Covid Testing LLC David Raymond Brown (aka David Brown Levy, David Addison Brown) |
West Columbia, SC | Real estate | $12M |
| Apr 4, 2023 | MJF Holdings LLC, MJF Capital LLC Michael J. French |
Pendleton, SC | Lending & cash advance | $20M |
| Mar 9, 2021 | George Heckler | Charleston, SC | Trading, forex & commodities | $90M |
| Nov 14, 2019 | Future Income Payments LLC Scott A. Kohn |
SC | Investment funds & advisory | $300M |
| Dec 12, 2018 | Thomas Lanzana | Pawleys Island, SC | Trading, forex & commodities | $1.1M |
| Aug 30, 2018 | Wade Caughman | Columbia, SC | Investment funds & advisory | $1M |
| Mar 29, 2018 | Nickolas M. Godfrey | Fort Mill, SC | Investment funds & advisory | $1M |
| May 10, 2016 | SG Investment Management Claus C. Foerster |
Spartanburg, SC | Investment funds & advisory | $3M |
| Mar 19, 2014 | Structured Finance Group Corporation Robert S. Leben, Amy L. Leben |
Columbia, SC | Trading, forex & commodities | $3.2M |
| Jul 26, 2012 | Gold & Silver LLC Archie Larue Evans |
Conway, SC | Investment funds & advisory | $2.5M |
| Jun 7, 2012 | Atlantic Bullion & Coin Ronnie Gene Wilson |
Easley, SC | Investment funds & advisory | $90.1M |
| Jan 4, 2010 | Oren Eugene Sullivan | Rock Hill, SC | Investment funds & advisory | $2.5M |
| Feb 24, 2009 | OSGold, OSOpps David Copeland Reed |
Columbia, SC | Trading, forex & commodities | $12.8M |
| Oct 1, 2008 | CSA Trading Group Inc, Cooper River Group Michael Derrick Peninger |
Charleston, SC | Trading, forex & commodities | $1M |