Rockland County Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Investors In Investment Scheme
summary
Solomon Lichtenstein pleaded guilty to securities fraud for managing an investment scheme that defrauded investors of over $3 million and resulted in $1.5 million in losses.
paragraph
Solomon Lichtenstein, 30, of Stony Point, New York, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud for misrepresenting his investment strategies and track record. Between July 2022 and August 2024, he raised over $3 million from dozens of victims but only invested less than $600,000 of those funds. After accounting for returned funds, investors lost more than $1.5 million, while Lichtenstein misappropriated approximately $1 million for personal use.
narrative
Solomon Lichtenstein, a 30-year-old resident of Stony Point, New York, pleaded guilty to securities fraud for managing two investment vehicles that defrauded investors of over $3 million. Between July 2022 and August 2024, Lichtenstein used false statements regarding his trading strategies and track record to solicit funds from friends, relatives, and community members. While he claimed to generate large returns, he invested less than $600,000 and incurred significant losses, while simultaneously diverting approximately $1 million for personal expenses like mortgage payments and travel. Ultimately, investors suffered total losses exceeding $1.5 million. Lichtenstein faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on July 8, 2026. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI and the SEC, the latter of which has filed a separate civil action.
Classified pump-and-dump(confidence 70%). EDGAR detection: forms S-8/S-1/424B/8-K· recall 69% / precision 12%. detection rule →
Statutes
Parties
solomon lichtensteinthe outstanding investigative work of the federal bureau of investigation
Keywords
investors investmentlichtensteininvestorsinvestmentlinkrockland countypleads defraudingdefrauding investorsinvestment schemegovernment non-governmentnon-government sitessites typicallytypically appearappear externalexternal link
Extracted insights
Dollar amounts 4
- $3.00M $3 million $1M–$10M
- $1.50M $1.5 million $1M–$10M
- $1.00M $1 million $1M–$10M
- $600K $600,000 $100K–$1M
Entities 2
- person solomon lichtenstein
- agency the outstanding investigative work of the federal bureau of investigation
Triples 11
- Solomon Lichtenstein Pled Guilty To Defrauding Investors In Investment Scheme
- Solomon Lichtenstein Solicited And Received Millions Of Dollars From Friends, Relatives, And Members Of His Community
- Solomon Lichtenstein Falsely Represented That His Unique Trading And Risk Mitigation Strategies Were Generating Large Returns
- Solomon Lichtenstein Invested Less Than $600,000 Of The Funds He Received
- Solomon Lichtenstein Incurred Significant Losses On Those Funds Through Losing Trades
- Solomon Lichtenstein Took Approximately $1 Million In Investor Funds For Personal Use
- Solomon Lichtenstein Is Scheduled To Be Sentenced On July 8, 2026
- U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton Praised The Outstanding Investigative Work Of The Federal Bureau Of Investigation
- U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton Thanked The U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission For Its Assistance And Cooperation In The Investigation
- The Prosecution Is Being Handled By The Office’s White Plains Division
- Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reyhan Watson, James McMahon, And John Sarlitto Are In Charge Of The Prosecution
Extracted body text (3,423c)
Press Release Rockland County Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Investors In Investment Scheme Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that SOLOMON LICHTENSTEIN pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik to securities fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in two investment vehicles he managed and promoted. “Solomon Lichtenstein solicited and received millions of dollars from friends, relatives, and members of his community on the back of false statements and misrepresentations regarding his investment qualifications and strategy, track record, and returns,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “When investment advisers abuse the trust of their clients and use New Yorkers’ hard-earned money for their personal benefit, our Office will hold them criminally accountable.”According to the Information, plea agreement, and statements made in court:Over a period of roughly two years from July 2022 through August 2024, LICHTENSTEIN defrauded investors in two investment entities he operated. He raised more than $3 million from dozens of victims. LICHTENSTEIN falsely represented to investors and prospective investors that his unique trading and risk mitigation strategies were generating large returns. In reality, he invested less than $600,000 of the funds he received and incurred significant losses on those funds through losing trades. LICHTENSTEIN also took approximately $1 million in investor funds for personal use, including home mortgage payments, travel and dining expenses, and cash withdrawals. Accounting for funds that were returned, investors lost more than $1.5 million through LICHTENSTEIN’s scheme. * * *LICHTENSTEIN, 30, of Stony Point, New York, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. LICHTENSTEIN is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a separate civil action against LICHTENSTEIN, for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reyhan Watson, James McMahon, and John Sarlitto are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated March 11, 2026 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 26-055
OCR text (3,423c · html-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Rockland County Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Investors In Investment Scheme Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that SOLOMON LICHTENSTEIN pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik to securities fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in two investment vehicles he managed and promoted. “Solomon Lichtenstein solicited and received millions of dollars from friends, relatives, and members of his community on the back of false statements and misrepresentations regarding his investment qualifications and strategy, track record, and returns,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “When investment advisers abuse the trust of their clients and use New Yorkers’ hard-earned money for their personal benefit, our Office will hold them criminally accountable.”According to the Information, plea agreement, and statements made in court:Over a period of roughly two years from July 2022 through August 2024, LICHTENSTEIN defrauded investors in two investment entities he operated. He raised more than $3 million from dozens of victims. LICHTENSTEIN falsely represented to investors and prospective investors that his unique trading and risk mitigation strategies were generating large returns. In reality, he invested less than $600,000 of the funds he received and incurred significant losses on those funds through losing trades. LICHTENSTEIN also took approximately $1 million in investor funds for personal use, including home mortgage payments, travel and dining expenses, and cash withdrawals. Accounting for funds that were returned, investors lost more than $1.5 million through LICHTENSTEIN’s scheme. * * *LICHTENSTEIN, 30, of Stony Point, New York, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. LICHTENSTEIN is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a separate civil action against LICHTENSTEIN, for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reyhan Watson, James McMahon, and John Sarlitto are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated March 11, 2026 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 26-055