SEC charges Texas oil-and-gas fund managers with $17 million fraud

SEC charges Texas oil-and-gas fund managers with $17 million fraud
Patrick Duke and Paul Haarman of APEG Investors allegedly kept $2.6 million of what they raised from investors.
MAR 12, 2021

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Texas-based investment adviser APEG Energy and its owners, Patrick E. Duke and Paul W. Haarman, with fraudulently raising more than $17 million for an oil-and-gas investment fund they managed.

The agency also charged the two with misappropriating over $2.6 million from the fund.

The complaint seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest and civil penalties against each defendant.

According to the SEC's complaint, from approximately December 2015 to October 2016, the fraudulent scheme engineered by Duke and Haarman involved the sale of limited partnership interests in the fund.

The two allegedly made several false and misleading statements to investors about the risks of investing in the fund, their compensation for managing the fund, and their expertise in the oil and gas industry.

Balancing your portfolio with fine wine

Latest News

Maryland bars advisor over charging excessive fees to clients
Maryland bars advisor over charging excessive fees to clients

Blue Anchor Capital Management and Pickett also purchased “highly aggressive and volatile” securities, according to the order.

Wave of SEC appointments signals regulatory shift with implications for financial advisors
Wave of SEC appointments signals regulatory shift with implications for financial advisors

Reshuffle provides strong indication of where the regulator's priorities now lie.

US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel
US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel

Goldman Sachs Asset Management report reveals sharpened focus on annuities.

Why DA Davidson's wealth vice chairman still follows his dad's investment advice
Why DA Davidson's wealth vice chairman still follows his dad's investment advice

Ahead of Father's Day, InvestmentNews speaks with Andrew Crowell.

401(k) participants seek advice, but few turn to financial advisors
401(k) participants seek advice, but few turn to financial advisors

Cerulli research finds nearly two-thirds of active retirement plan participants are unadvised, opening a potential engagement opportunity.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today’s choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.

SPONSORED Beyond the dashboard: Making wealth tech human

How intelliflo aims to solve advisors' top tech headaches—without sacrificing the personal touch clients crave