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SEC Charges Three Individuals for Offering and Selling Fraudulent Oil and Gas Investment

On May 18, 2020 the Securities and Exchange Commission sued three Texas residents who used deceptive offering materials and promotional videos to sell $2.7 million in fraudulent oil and gas investments.  Defendants Paul R. Montgomery, Jr., Michael D. Fisher, and James H. Willingham, Jr. were charged after the SEC found that approximately 15 investors lost about $2.7 million by investing in joint venture interests in two oil and gas projects.  Defendants lured investors with, among other things, promises of 32% investment returns, as well as representations about Montgomery’s expertise and qualification in the oil and gas exploration industry.

The complaint alleges Defendants never drilled or reworked a single well for the projects.  Defendants misrepresented and/or omitted numerous material facts to investors that were fundamental to the nature and risks of the investment offerings.  Defendants distributed written offering materials in which they promised to use investor funds only for specified purposes, instead they misappropriated investor funds, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a number of uses not permitted in the offering documents, such as undisclosed commissions, and payments to Montgomery and Willingham.   In the end, investors suffered a complete loss of their funds.

In the interest of protecting the public from any further fraudulent activity and harm, the SEC brought this action against Defendants.  The Commission charged Montgomery and Fisher with aiding and abetting Willingham’s violations of the charged anti-fraud provisions.  Additionally, the SEC is seeking disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest, civil penalties, and injunctive relief.  Willingham has agreed to be enjoined against future violations of the charged provisions, and to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalty, the amounts of which will be determined by the court upon a motion filed by the SEC.