New Money

Stanford Financial: SEC Accuses Texas Firm of CD Fraud

By Katy Marquardt

Posted: February 17, 2009

As Warren Buffett once said, "It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked."

Just two months after Bernie Madoff was arrested for allegedly running a $50 billion Ponzi scam, the SEC today charged Robert Stanford and three of his companies for defrauding investors through a CD program. The SEC says Stanford International Bank sold roughly $8 billion of  "so-called 'certificates of deposit' to investors by promising improbable and unsubstantiated high interest rates."

Interestingly, Stanford suffered $400,000 in losses related to the alleged Madoff scheme, according to the NYT.

The commission said the CD rates were "supposedly earned through SIB's unique investment strategy, which purportedly allowed the bank to achieve double-digit returns on its investments for the past 15 years."

Reports say about 15 agents raided Stanford's Houston and Memphis offices today.

Like I've always said

The only good thing to come out of Texas is Doritos.

Habib of FL @ Feb 20, 2009 19:45:23 PM

Greg needs a reality check

Overreacting? I guess Greg hasn't lost any money or hasn't been paying attention.

belinda of TX @ Feb 18, 2009 17:04:13 PM

Overreacting Government

Sounds like the government is overeacting based on the Madoff crap. .

greg of TX @ Feb 17, 2009 21:32:50 PM

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New Money

Katy Marquardt, a senior editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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