Under False Persona, Man Defrauds Investors of Millions

In a stark reminder to thoroughly confirm your stockbroker’s background, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently charged a California man with defrauding investors of millions of dollars by using a patently false persona. [1]

The SEC’s complaint charged Justin Costello with violations of the anti-fraud provisions of several federal securities laws as a result of his role in this massive fraudulent scheme. [2]

While the SEC’s complaint alleges a broad web of fraudulent investment schemes, Costello mainly operated through deceit about his background, his qualifications, and the value of the companies he owned and operated. [2] Throughout the span of his fraudulent schemes, Costello was never registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer nor investment adviser. [2]

Costello’s success in bringing in clients largely rested on his fabricated credentials. Costello falsely stated to both the public in a press release and to the SEC in a Form 8-K filing that he graduated from the University of Minnesota and the Harvard Business School. In reality, Costello graduated from neither of these schools, but instead from Winona State University. [2]

Costello also alleged to prospective and existing clients that he was “the youngest hedge fund billionaire ever,” that he was a veteran of the United States Special Forces, and that he was licensed in money and investment management. [2] Each of these assertions was false yet helped to build Costello’s reputation and lure in unsuspecting clients. [2]

Once Costello secured advisory clients, he operated his fraudulent scheme by exercising complete and independent control over their brokerage account investments to invest only in securities of companies he owned.

In one case, Costello instructed a client never to log into their brokerage account while he managed it. While Costello managed all of the trades in the account, he advised the client that should the client’s brokerage firm ever reach out, the client should lie and state that the client had made the trades, not Costello [2]

Eventually, the client’s initial brokerage firm terminated its business with the client. Costello then convinced the client to allow him to manage another $1.27 million in a new brokerage account with a different brokerage firm, maintaining the same level of unfettered control. [2]

Costello’s independent control over the client’s brokerage accounts played directly into his fraudulent scheme. While he told the client that he would invest in a diversified portfolio of securities, Costello instead invested and traded only in microcap companies owned by him or in which he personally invested, presenting serious insider trading implications.

Costello began managing these brokerage accounts in 2019, and by 2022, the millions of dollars he was originally trusted to manage had dwindled downward by approximately 97% as a result of his fraudulent insider trading scheme. [1]

This is but one of several simultaneous fraudulent schemes Costello ran between 2019 and 2020. The SEC is seeking injunctions, disgorgement, civil penalties, and a prohibition against Costello ever serving as a broker dealer in the future. [2]

Protecting yourself from a fraudulent stockbroker may seem daunting, but the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy publishes free resources on Investor.gov to help conduct reviews of a broker-dealer’s background before engaging in business.

Furthermore, if you think your stockbroker may have misrepresented their qualifications, license, or has engaged in fraudulent investment practices, the attorneys at Savage Villoch law can assist you – reach out for your consultation today.

Sources:

[1] https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-178

[2] https://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/2022/comp-pr2022-178.pdf