SEC obtains judgment against Ohio adviser who defrauded investors

Scott Allen Fries, a former Transamerica rep and adviser, took at least $458,000 from at least 10 individuals.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio entered a final judgment against Scott Allen Fries, a former registered representative and investment adviser representative at Transamerica, for defrauding investors.

According to the SEC, from March 2014 to March 2019, Ohio-based Fries raised at least $458,000 from at least 10 individuals, some of them his brokerage customers, but used the money for personal expenses, including mortgage payments and credit card bills, rather than investing it. He lied to the individuals about their investments, created false account statements that showed profitable investments, and lied to his employer about taking the money from brokerage customers.

In July 2019, Transamerica discharged Fries, and in August 2019, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. barred him for failing to cooperate with an investigation.

The court ordered Fries to pay $428,334.53 in disgorgement, as well as prejudgment interest of $110,548.02 and a civil penalty of $208,500.

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