SEC v. Path America, LLC; Lobsang Dargey; Path America SnoCo; and Path America KingCo, No. LR-23326, Western District of Washington (Aug. 25, 2015) — Press Release
raw: Path America, LLC, et al.
Path America, LLC, et al., No. 2:15-cv-01350 (Aug. 25, 2015)
Lobsang Dargey and his Path America companies allegedly defrauded 250 Chinese investors in the EB-5 visa program, misappropriating at least $17 million, and were subsequently hit with an asset freeze by the SEC.
The SEC alleges that Dargey raised at least $125 million for two Washington real estate projects but diverted $14 million to unrelated projects and $3 million for personal luxuries. Dargey misled investors regarding the security of their U.S. residency applications by failing to disclose material departures from the approved business plans. The court granted an asset freeze, prohibited further solicitation of investors, and ordered the repatriation of funds transferred to overseas accounts.
Lobsang Dargey and his Path America companies allegedly defrauded 250 Chinese investors in the EB-5 visa program by misappropriating at least $17 million of the $125 million raised for two real estate projects in Seattle and Everett, Washington. Dargey diverted $14 million to unrelated real estate ventures and $3 million for personal expenses, including a $2.5 million home and casino withdrawals, while falsely assuring investors their funds would be used solely for approved projects. The SEC charged Dargey with securities fraud for misleading investors and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about material deviations from approved business plans, jeopardizing investors’ eligibility for U.S. residency. The court granted an asset freeze, expedited discovery, a document preservation order, and required Dargey to repatriate overseas funds. The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Brent Smyth and Michael Foley of the San Francisco office and supervised by Steven Buchholz. The SEC’s litigation will be led by Mr. Smyth and Susan LaMarca. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the USCIS.
Exhibits & Attached Documents (1)
Extracted insights
- $125.00M $125 million $100M–$1B
- $14.00M $14 million $10M–$100M
- $3.00M $3 million $1M–$10M
- $2.50M $2.5 million $1M–$10M
- $500K $500,000 $100K–$1M
- scheme_term against path america, llc, et al. for securities fraud related to eb-5 program
- person lobsang dargey
- SEC announced asset freeze Lobsang Dargey in Bellevue, Wash., accused of defrauding Chinese investors seeking U.S. residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program
- SEC filed civil action against Path America, LLC, et al. for securities fraud related to EB-5 program
- Lobsang Dargey allegedly defrauded Chinese investors seeking U.S. residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 23326 / August 25, 2015 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Path America, LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 2:15-cv-01350 JLR (W.D. Wash. filed Aug. 24, 2015) SEC Announces Asset Freeze Against Alleged EB-5 Fraudster in Seattle Area The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an asset freeze obtained against a man in Bellevue, Wash., accused of defrauding Chinese investors seeking U.S. residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program by investing in his companies. The SEC alleges that Lobsang Dargey and his Path America companies have raised at least $125 million for two real estate projects: a skyscraper in downtown Seattle and a mixed-use commercial and residential development containing a farmers' market in Everett, Wash. But Dargey diverted $14 million for unrelated real estate projects and $3 million for personal use including the purchase of his $2.5 million home and cash withdrawals at casinos. According to the SEC's complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington: Under the EB-5 program, foreign citizens may qualify for U.S. residency if they make a qualified investment of at least $500,000 in a specified project that creates or preserves at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers. Dargey and his companies obtained investments from 250 Chinese investors under the auspices of the EB-5 program. Path America SnoCo and Path America KingCo operated as regional centers through which EB-5 investments could be made. Dargey told U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and EB-5 investors that he would use investor money only for the Seattle skyscraper and Everett, Wash., projects. Dargey and his companies misled investors about their ability to obtain permanent residency by investing in the Path America projects. For example, Dargey knew that USCIS can deny investors' residency applications if investor money is used for a project that materially departs from the approved business plan presented to USCIS. Dargey failed to tell investors that he and his companies had departed from the business plan by using investor money for personal expenses and unrelated projects. The court granted the SEC's request for an asset freeze and issued an order restraining Dargey and his companies from soliciting additional investors. The SEC also was granted an order expediting discovery, prohibiting the destruction of documents, and requiring Dargey to repatriate funds he transferred to overseas bank accounts. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Brent Smyth and Michael Foley of the San Francisco office and supervised by Steven Buchholz. The SEC's litigation will be led by Mr. Smyth and Susan LaMarca. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the USCIS. SEC Complaint
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 23326 / August 25, 2015 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Path America, LLC, et al., Civil Action No. 2:15-cv-01350 JLR (W.D. Wash. filed Aug. 24, 2015) SEC Announces Asset Freeze Against Alleged EB-5 Fraudster in Seattle Area The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an asset freeze obtained against a man in Bellevue, Wash., accused of defrauding Chinese investors seeking U.S. residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program by investing in his companies. The SEC alleges that Lobsang Dargey and his Path America companies have raised at least $125 million for two real estate projects: a skyscraper in downtown Seattle and a mixed-use commercial and residential development containing a farmers' market in Everett, Wash. But Dargey diverted $14 million for unrelated real estate projects and $3 million for personal use including the purchase of his $2.5 million home and cash withdrawals at casinos. According to the SEC's complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington: Under the EB-5 program, foreign citizens may qualify for U.S. residency if they make a qualified investment of at least $500,000 in a specified project that creates or preserves at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers. Dargey and his companies obtained investments from 250 Chinese investors under the auspices of the EB-5 program. Path America SnoCo and Path America KingCo operated as regional centers through which EB-5 investments could be made. Dargey told U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and EB-5 investors that he would use investor money only for the Seattle skyscraper and Everett, Wash., projects. Dargey and his companies misled investors about their ability to obtain permanent residency by investing in the Path America projects. For example, Dargey knew that USCIS can deny investors' residency applications if investor money is used for a project that materially departs from the approved business plan presented to USCIS. Dargey failed to tell investors that he and his companies had departed from the business plan by using investor money for personal expenses and unrelated projects. The court granted the SEC's request for an asset freeze and issued an order restraining Dargey and his companies from soliciting additional investors. The SEC also was granted an order expediting discovery, prohibiting the destruction of documents, and requiring Dargey to repatriate funds he transferred to overseas bank accounts. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Brent Smyth and Michael Foley of the San Francisco office and supervised by Steven Buchholz. The SEC's litigation will be led by Mr. Smyth and Susan LaMarca. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the USCIS. SEC Complaint