RECEIVER’S SUPPLEMENTAL INTERIM REPORT
On April 19, 2024, the Receiver filed a Supplemental Interim Report Regarding the Continuing Obstruction of the Receivership and Possible Recovery Scam Targeting Investor Victims. A copy of the Report is available here.
Court Grants Receiver’s Request for Second Interim Distribution
On April 8, 2024, The Court granted the Receiver’s motion requesting approval to make a second interim distribution to investors with allowed claims. A copy of the Order is available here. Second interim distribution checks were mailed to claimants entitled to receive them on April 30, 2024.
Magistrate Judge Recommends that Court Grant Receiver’s Motion for Second Interim Distribution of $9 Million
On February 28, 2024, the Receiver filed a motion seeking approval to make a second interim distribution to investors with allowed claims. A copy of the Receiver’s motion is available here. The Receiver is seeking permission to make an interim distribution of approximately $9 million as set forth on Exhibit 1 attached to the motion, which would provide claimants entitled to participate in the distribution approximately 15.76% of their allowed amounts. The proposed second distribution would bring the total recovery for claimants participating in both distributions to approximately 33.28% of approved amounts. On March 22, 2024, the Honorable Magistrate Judge Sean Flynn recommended that the Court grant the Receiver’s motion. A copy of the Report and Recommendation is available here. If the Court approves the Report and Recommendation, the Receiver will make every effort to promptly send distribution checks by U.S. Mail. This website will be updated once the Court enters an order.
Court Grants CFTC’s Motion for Summary Judgment against Michael DaCorta
On December 6, 2023, United States District Court Judge Virginia Hernandez-Covington entered an order granting the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (“CFTC”) Motion for Summary Judgment against Michael J. DaCorta and denying Mr. DaCorta’s cross Motion for Summary Judgment against the CFTC. The Court directed the Clerk to enter judgment in favor of the CFTC and against Mr. DaCorta on all counts of the complaint in the amount of $53,270,336.08, plus post-judgment interest as restitution and $8,453,628.48 as a civil penalty. This Judgment was entered on December 7, 2023. The Order and Judgments can be reviewed here and here. The Court-appointed Receiver has already seized and sold Mr. Dacorta’s assets.
In a detailed 46-page order outlining all claims against Mr. DaCorta, the Court emphasized that there was no genuine dispute of material fact regarding any of those claims. In stark contrast to the assertions made by the “Oasis Helpers Group” and Mr. DaCorta’s lawyers, the Court found that Mr. DaCorta did not provide any evidence that created a dispute that he violated the Commodities Futures Act, committed ongoing fraud, and conducted a Ponzi scheme. The Court found that DaCorta’s scheme was carried out to intentionally defraud the Oasis investors. These findings make clear that the activities of the “Oasis Helpers Group” continued to deceive Mr. DaCorta’s victims. The Court permanently enjoined Mr. DaCorta from further violations of the Commodities Exchange Act and supporting regulations and directed that DaCorta can never again engage in a commodities transaction. Mr. DaCorta was represented by Ron Kurpiers, Esq. in the CFTC action with Brent Winters as his co-counsel, who also represented many of DaCorta’s victims.
Introduction
Welcome to the website of Receiver, Burton W. Wiand. Mr. Wiand has been appointed Receiver in a civil enforcement action, styled Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Oasis International Group, Ltd. et al., Case No. [8:19-cv-00886] in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.
We designed this website to provide convenient access to information about the receivership, including important updates, and select District Court documents. As our work progresses, we will add information to this website, including information regarding a plan of distribution to creditors of any assets that are recovered and all forms required by the District Court for participation as a claimant in the distribution process. If you require further information not contained in this website, you may contact us.
Brief Summary of the Case
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil enforcement action in federal court in Florida against Sarasota area defendants Oasis International Group, Limited (OIG), Oasis Management, LLC(OM), Satellite Holdings Company (Satellite), Michael J. DaCorta (DaCorta),Joseph S. Anile, II (Anile), Raymond P. Montie, III (Montie), Francisco “Frank” L. Duran (Duran), and John J. Haas (Haas) (collectively, defendants). The defendants are charged with operating a $75 million foreign currency (“forex”) trading scheme involving over 700 U.S. participants and over $47 million misappropriated in order to return funds to certain participants and for personal use, such as exotic vacations, sports tickets, and college tuition. The Complaint also names nine relief defendants, who are alleged to have received pool participant funds: [Mainstream Fund Services, Inc., Bowling Green Capital Management, LLC, Lagoon Investments, LLC, Roar of the Lion Fitness, LLC, 444 Gulf of Mexico Drive, LLC, 4064 Founders Club Drive, LLC, 6922 Lacantera Circle, LLC, 13318 Lost Key Place, LLC, and 4Oaks, LLC]. The CFTC’s press release can be viewed here.
Where, as in this case, the CFTC seeks the return of funds to investors, the CFTC frequently pursues the appointment of a receiver to assist in marshalling assets on behalf of injured investors. CTFC-initiated receiverships frequently arise in connection with alleged fraudulent investment schemes.
The District Court entered an order on April 15, 2019, appointing Mr. Wiand as Receiver. The Court directed the Receiver to (i) administer and manage the business affairs, funds, assets, and any other property of the Defendants and Relief Defendants; (ii) marshal and safeguard the assets of the Defendants and Relief Defendants; (iii) investigate the manner in which the affairs of the Defendants and Relief Defendants were conducted and institute such legal proceedings for the benefit of the Defendants and Relief Defendants and their investors and creditors as the Receiver deems necessary; and (iv) take whatever actions are necessary for the protection of the investors. We intend to fulfill our duties and responsibilities as Receiver in an expedient and efficient manner. The District Court overseeing this receivership has broad powers and wide discretion to determine the appropriate relief.
RECEIVER’S TWENTY-FIRST INTERIM REPORT
Receiver’s Twenty-First Interim Report
