"MAKE A LOT OF MONEY" COMPANY OWNER CHARGED BY SEC FOR PRIME BANK SCHEMES

FROM:  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

SEC Charges Las Vegas Resident and His Company with Securities and Broker-Dealer Registration Violations in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Prime Bank Schemes

On April 23, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against Las Vegas resident James Lee Erwin and his company, Las Vegas-based Joint Venture Solutions, Inc., for violating the securities offering and broker-dealer registration provisions of the federal securities laws. Erwin and Joint Venture Solutions, Inc. promoted investments in Malom Group AG of Switzerland, a company named with an acronym for "Make A Lot Of Money," that is behind a pair of advance fee schemes guaranteeing astronomical returns to investors in purported prime bank transactions and overseas debt instruments.

The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, alleges that between 2009 and 2011 Erwin, through Joint Venture Solutions, promoted investments in Malom, offered Malom's securities to prospective investors, and acted as an intermediary between investors and Malom. The defendants' efforts induced at least five investors to pay Malom over $2.5 million to enter into agreements with Malom. The SEC alleges that while the defendants received commissions based upon a percentage of the amount of investor funds raised, the investors they recruited lost all of their invested funds.

The SEC's complaint alleges that Erwin and Joint Venture Solutions, Inc. violated the securities registration provisions of the federal securities laws, specifically, Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest thereon, and civil penalties against each defendant.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Stephen Simpson and Angela Sierra, and the SEC's litigation will be led by Mr. Simpson. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and State Attorney's Office for the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.