April 21, 2011

Receiver Makes $792 Million Initial Distribution to Investors in New York Defendants Paul Greenwood’s and Stephen Walsh’s $1.3 Billion Investment Ponzi Scam Charged by the CFTC and SEC

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced that, based on an order entered on March 21, 2011, by the U.S. District Court for Southern District of New York (SDNY), the court-appointed Receiver, Robb Evans & Associates, LLC, has begun an initial distribution of approximately $792 million to investors in a commodity pool operated by CFTC defendants Paul Greenwood and Stephen Walsh, who, among other defendants, were charged by the CFTC in 2009 with operating a $1.3 billion investment Ponzi scam (see CFTC Press Release 5621-09, February 25, 2009, and CFTC v. Walsh et. al., Civ. No. 09-CV-01749). This constitutes a distribution of nearly 85 percent of approved claims to investors.

The CFTC complaint, filed on February 25, 2009, in the SDNY, charged Greenwood, of North Salem, N.Y., and Walsh, of Sands Point, N.Y., with operating a Ponzi scheme that misappropriated at least $553 million from commodity pool participants in connection with entities Greenwood and Walsh owned and controlled, such as Westridge Capital Management, Inc., WG Trading Investors, LP and WGIA, LLC. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also filed a civil action in a related matter (SEC v. WG Trading Investors, L.P., et al., Civ. No. 09-1750).

The SDNY order approved a pro rata net investment distribution plan recommended by both the CFTC and SEC and proposed by the Receiver. Under the court-approved plan, the Receiver is making an initial distribution of approximately $792 million dollars to investors, mostly institutions, such as state and county pension funds, private pension funds and university foundations, 30 days from the date of the order. The Receiver’s efforts to recover additional funds to return to investors are ongoing.

Earlier, on July 28, 2010, the SDNY entered an order of permanent injunction against Greenwood holding him liable for futures fraud and misappropriation of pool participant funds. The order also requires Greenwood to pay disgorgement and a civil monetary penalty in an amount to be determined at a later date by the court (see CFTC Press Release 5865-10, July 29, 2010). On July 28, 2010, Greenwood pled guilty to criminal violations in the related criminal action, USA v. Greenwood et al, Case No. 1:09-CR-722 (MGC).

The CFTC’s civil litigation is still ongoing against the other defendants and relief defendants in this matter.

The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the National Futures Association, the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the SEC.

The CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this matter are Patricia Gomersall, Kyong J. Koh, JonMarc P. Buffa, Joseph Rosenberg, Peter M. Haas, Paul G. Hayeck and Joan Manley.

Media Contact
Dennis Holden
202-418-5088

Last Updated: April 21, 2011