Unique Gems International Pension Fund of America and Focus Financial Associates are just a few of the local companies that ripped off millions from i

Unique Gems International Pension Fund of America and Focus Financial Associates are just a few of the local companies that ripped off millions from investors.This ''is one of the more egregious affinity frauds we have seen in South Florida,'' Verges said. ``He's banking on that familiarity with that community to steal from them.''
The SEC obtained a court order halting business at Creative Capital and another firm, A Creative Capital Concepts, which the agency claims collected more than $23 million, primarily from Haitian-American investors. Many live in South Florida and were told they could double their investment in three months through stock and options trading.A federal judge signed an order freezing Theodule's and the companies' assets. A receiver has been appointed to oversee the companies.
Attempts to reach Theodule and his attorney were unsuccessful.On a Haitian radio station, Theodule, 48, denied he had stolen investors' money.''If I ran off with the money, I would be somewhere in Africa with four women fanning me down right now,'' he said on WPBR 1340-AM.He said the economy was the reason why some investors had not received their money. But he insisted the investments were working.The SEC, though, says Theodule lost at least $18 million over the past year. It also alleges Theodule, who now lives in Georgia, commingled investors' funds with his personal money and took at least $3.8 million for himself and his family.