SEC v. Ross C. Miles, American Equities, Inc., and American Eagle Mortgage Management, LLC, Maureen T. Wile — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Litigation Release No. 26225, dated January 17, 2025.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained final judgments against Ross C. Miles, Maureen T. Wile, American Equities, Inc., and American Eagle Mortgage Management, LLC. These defendants defrauded investors out of approximately $15.5 million between 2007 and 2018 by raising money for 15 private investment funds. The judgments include disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties.
Imagine you trusted people to invest your money in special funds. Instead of using the money as promised, they took it and lied to you about how well your investments were doing. The SEC stepped in and made them pay back some of the money they took, plus penalties.
Disclaimer: all facts are drawn from the SEC's own filings; the claims described are allegations unless and until a court rules or the parties settle, and some cases end in dismissal.
SEC Obtains Final Judgments Against Washington State-Based Real Estate Investment Fund Managers That Defrauded Investors for More Than a Decade. On January 15, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon entered final consent judgements against defendants Ross C. Miles, Maureen T. Wile, American Equities, Inc., and American Eagle Mortgage Management, LLC. The entry of the final consent judgments resolves all claims arising out of the SEC’s complaint, filed on April 27, 2022, which alleged that the defendants defrauded investors when they raised approximately $15.5 million in 15 private investment funds from 2007 to 2018. The SEC’s complaint charged Miles, Wile, American Equities, and American Eagle Mortgage Management with violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The defendants previously consented to judgments permanently enjoining them from violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws described above, and Miles and Wile further consented to be barred from serving as an officer or director of any public company. The district court entered judgments imposing these remedies on April 28, 2022. On January 15, 2025, the district court entered final judgments ordering Miles, American Equities, and American Eagle Mortgage Management to pay, jointly and severally, disgorgement of $1,876,115.22 plus prejudgment interest of $1,146,307.10, and a $230,464 civil penalty. Additionally, Wile was ordered to pay disgorgement of $30,299 plus prejudgment interest of $21,778.46, and a $80,000 civil penalty. The SEC’s litigation was led by Brent Smyth, Robert J. Durham Jr., and Kashya K. Shei of the San Francisco Regional Office, with assistance from Crystal F. Boodoo of the Philadelphia Regional Office.
Named in this action: Ross C. Miles, American Equities, Inc., and American Eagle Mortgage Management, LLC, Maureen T. Wile.