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STATE OF
DOCKET NO. CV-03-137
STATE OF
SECURITIES ADMINISTRATOR, )
)
Plaintiffs, )
)
v. ) COMPLAINT
)
PAUL E. RICHARD, )
)
Defendant. )
INTRODUCTION
1. The State of Maine and Securities Administrator (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the State”) bring this action against Paul E. Richard (“Richard”) for violations of the Revised Maine Securities Act, 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10101-10713 (1999 and Supp. 2002) in that he sold unregistered securities, in violation of 32 M.R.S.A. § 10401 (1999); sold securities without a license, in violation of 32 M.R.S.A. § 10301 (1999); and committed securities fraud, in violation of 32 M.R.S.A. § 10201 (1999).
JURISDICTION
2. This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 4 M.R.S.A. § 105 (Supp. 2002) and 32 M.R.S.A. § 10603 (1999).
PARTIES
3.
4. Defendant
Richard is an adult individual residing in
FACTUAL
BACKGROUND
5. From mid-1997 until late 2001, Richard had a contractual relationship with Mid-America Foundation, Inc. (“Mid-America”), under which Richard sold Mid-America’s charitable gift annuities (“CGAs”) in exchange for a 6-8% commission on sales and other compensation.
6. CGAs are investment contracts, as well as evidence of indebtedness, and thus fit within the statutory definition of securities. 32 M.R.S.A. § 10501(18) (1999). However, at no time were the Mid-America CGAs registered as securities with the Maine Office of Securities.
7. The CGAs, as sold by Richard on behalf of Mid-America, provided for the investor to make an irrevocable gift of cash or securities to Mid-America. Mid-America in turn promised to pay a rate of return to the investor (in the form of periodic payments for the rest of the investor’s life) and then transfer the principal to a designated charity upon the investor’s death.
8. In
fact, the Mid-America CGAs were nothing more than a Ponzi scheme. Mid-America used assets received from
investors to make periodic payments to previous investors and to fund
Mid-America’s Executive Director Robert Dillie’s lavish lifestyle, including
huge
9. Between
10. At
no time did Richard disclose to Mr. Theimann that Mid-America was a Ponzi
scheme or that Mr. Theimann’s CGA investment would be used to pay other
investors and to support Mid-America’s Executive Director’s lifestyle. Moreover, at no time did Richard disclose to
Mr. Theimann that the CGAs were not registered as securities with the State of
11. Mid-America paid Richard approximately $144,000 in commissions and other compensation for making the sales to Mr. Theimann.
12. Although Mr. Theimann received some periodic payments, the payments ceased in mid-2001. Soon thereafter, the Ponzi scheme collapsed, and Mr. Theimann’s entire investment was lost.
Statutory Background
13. The
Revised
14. The
Act prohibits the offer or sale of securities that are not registered in
15. The
Act further prohibits any person from transacting business in
16. Under the Act, a person shall not, in connection with the offer, sale, or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly: (a) employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; (b) make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; or (c) engage in any act, practice, or course of business that operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person. 32 M.R.S.A. § 10201 (1999).
17. The Securities Administrator may refer violations of the Act to the Attorney General for enforcement, and the Attorney General may initiate a civil action in the Superior Court. 32 M.R.S.A. § 10602(1)(D) (1999).
18. In an enforcement action under the Act, the Court may grant a variety of legal and equitable remedies, including injunctions, civil penalties, restitution to investors and disgorgement. 32 M.R.S.A. § 10603 (1999).
COUNT I
(
19. The State repeats and realleges paragraphs 1 through 18 as if set forth fully herein.
20. By
selling the Mid-America CGAs to Mr. Theimann, Richard violated the prohibition
in 32 M.R.S.A. § 10401 (1999) against offering or selling unregistered
securities in
COUNT II
(Unlicensed
21. The State repeats and realleges paragraphs 1 through 20 as if set forth fully herein.
22. By
selling Mid-America CGAs to Mr. Theimann, Richard violated the prohibition in
32 M.R.S.A. § 10301 (1999) against transacting business in
COUNT III
(Securities Fraud)
23. The State repeats and realleges paragraphs 1 through 22 as if set forth fully herein.
24. By omitting to state material facts necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and by engaging in acts, practices, or a course of business that operated as a fraud or deceit upon Mr. Theimann, in connection with the offer and sale of securities, Richard violated 32 M.R.S.A. § 10201 (1999).
REQUEST FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the State requests that this Honorable Court grant the following relief:
1. An order requiring Richard to make full restitution to Mr. Theimann by returning all monies to him plus interest;
2. An order requiring Richard to disgorge all commissions or other compensation he received in connection with the sale of Mid-America CGAs to Mr. Theimann;
3. An injunction prohibiting Richard from offering or selling unregistered securities in the State of Maine, or transacting business as a broker-dealer or sales representative in the State of Maine unless licensed or exempt from licensing;
4. A civil penalty of $10,000 against Richard for each violation of the Act; and
5. Such other and further relief as this Court deems appropriate.
/s/
Michael J. Colleran
MICHAEL J. COLLERAN
Assistant Attorney General
6 State House Station
Tel. (207) 626-8800
Bar. No. 9247
Attorney for Plaintiffs