Another Forex Ponzi scheme promising extraordinary returns "with the help of God"

Eldon A. Gresham Targeted Persons of the Christian Faith, Soliciting More Than $15 Million; Court Freezes Assets

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today charged Eldon A. Gresham, d/b/a The Gresham Company, of Peachtree City, Georgia, with operating a multi-million dollar foreign currency (Forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation’s currency into another nation’s currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world’s largest tradi Read this Term) Ponzi scheme, specifically targeting persons of the Christian faith to invest in the scheme.

The CFTC complaint, filed under seal on July 2, 2009, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that, from at least January 2004, Gresham solicited more than $15 million from more than 75 customers to trade off-exchange forex contracts. Gresham allegedly claimed to prospective customers that he was successful trading forex because the “Lord had blessed him.” Gresham also told prospective customers that he was offering his program to a limited number of fellow Christians for a limited time, according to the complaint.

Gresham, according to the complaint, solicited some customers to invest supposedly by opening and funding an account for them based on their friendship over the years. After receiving a string of emailed statements showing purported extraordinary monthly returns – of between four and 13 percent – many customers began to contribute their personal funds into accounts with Gresham.

Gresham allegedly persuaded some customers to temporarily withdraw their retirement funds by telling them that he could earn five to 10 percent a month on these funds. He claimed that by doing so, customers could attain profits in less than 60 days. According to Gresham this would enable them to transfer the principal -- and expected large profits -- back into the retirement accounts before an early withdrawal tax penalty would be assessed. Additionally, Gresham told customers that their risk was limited because he was a conservative trader; he told a least one customer that her investment with Gresham was insured by the federal government and the biggest forex exchange in the United States.

According to the complaint, as the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme unfolded in late 2008, Gresham communicated to concerned customers that all their funds with him were safe and would be returned to them when due. The CFTC alleges that these statements were lies because Gresham never had sufficient funds on hand to return all customers’ principal, much less purported returns on their investment. According to the complaint, Gresham lost money in the limited Forex Trading Forex Trading Forex trading is the buying and selling of foreign currencies with the aim of generating a profit. The value of currencies, especially floating currencies, fluctuate to varying degrees. This constant volatility of exchange rates opens the door for speculators to invest in a certain currency against another. The Forex market is the world’s biggest and most liquid market, with over $5 billion turnover every single day, with the market being open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.It goes without saying Forex trading is the buying and selling of foreign currencies with the aim of generating a profit. The value of currencies, especially floating currencies, fluctuate to varying degrees. This constant volatility of exchange rates opens the door for speculators to invest in a certain currency against another. The Forex market is the world’s biggest and most liquid market, with over $5 billion turnover every single day, with the market being open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.It goes without saying Read this Term in which he engaged, and any purported profits paid to his customers came from either existing Gresham customers’ original investments or money invested by subsequent Gresham customers.

The complaint alleges that, at most, slightly over $2 million of the more than $15 million that Gresham solicited from customers was deposited into Gresham’s forex trading accounts. Of this slightly over $2 million amount, more than $1.4 million was withdrawn by Gresham. At least 14.4 million, therefore, was either misappropriated by Gresham or returned to his customers as part of the Ponzi scheme.

Three Relief Defendants Named in CFTC Complaint

In addition, the complaint names as relief defendants Werner H. Beiersdoerfer, and Interveston Wines, LLC, both of Calera, Alabama, and Kirk M. Gresham, Gresham’s son, of Newnan, Georgia, because they allegedly received funds as a result of Gresham’s fraudulent conduct to which they have no legitimate entitlement.

Federal Court Judge Freezes Defendant’s and Relief Defendants’ Assets

At the CFTC’s request, on the same day the complaint was filed, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Jack T. Camp froze Gresham’s and the relief defendants’ assets and allowed the CFTC to seize all relevant records in their possession. A preliminary injunction hearing was set for July 23, 2009.

In its continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains against the relief defendants. It also seeks restitution, disgorgement, civil monetary penalties, and permanent injunctions against further violations of the federal commodities laws and against further trading as to Gresham.

The CFTC notes that Gresham has no known connection with Gresham Investment Management, LLC, a registered commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor.

The CFTC thanks the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Fort Worth Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia for their assistance in this matter.

The following CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members are responsible for this case: Charles Marvine, Rachel Hayes, Michael Loconte, Erica Bodin, Jill Warren, Rick Glaser, and Richard Wagner