Securities & Exchange Commission v. Telecom Marketing, Inc.

888 F. Supp. 1160, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7342
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedApril 24, 1995
DocketCiv. 1:95-cv-804-ODE
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 888 F. Supp. 1160 (Securities & Exchange Commission v. Telecom Marketing, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Securities & Exchange Commission v. Telecom Marketing, Inc., 888 F. Supp. 1160, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7342 (N.D. Ga. 1995).

Opinion

ORDER

ORINDA D. EVANS, District Judge.

This civil action alleging violations of 15 U.S.C. §§ 77q(a)(l) and (2), 78j(b), 77e(a) and (e), and 78o(a)(l) is before the court on this court’s March 28, 1995 order to show cause why Plaintiffs motion for preliminary injunction should not be granted. Defendants filed responses and were represented at a hearing on the matter. Motions to dismiss, to accept for filing a response in excess of thirty pages, and for protective order have been filed by Defendants Smith, Jolcover, Telecom Marketing, Inc. (“Telecom-Mobile”), and Telecom Industries, Inc. (“Telecom-Madison”) *1162 and Midas Media, Ine. (“Midas”). Smith and Jolcover filed a motion for leave to appear on behalf of Midas, Telecom-Mobile, and Telecom-Madison which was not opposed. Field and Brixel, Inc. move to dismiss and join in the above-mentioned motion for protective order. Defendants Brixel, Inc. and John A. Field TV filed a “... consolidated motion to terminate asset freeze and/or to modify asset freeze to permit the payment of reasonable and necessary living expenses. Defendants Century Wireless Communications, Ine. (“Century”), Schroeder, Tri-Star Communications, Inc. (“Tri-Star”), and Iwankowski responded to the show cause order with a filing styled “motion in opposition to entry of preliminary injunction ... and consolidated motion to terminate the asset freeze to permit the payment of reasonable and necessary expenses and attorney’s fees.” Plaintiff filed a motion for Fed.R.Civ.P. 37 sanctions which it subsequently withdrew.

On March 28, 1995, Plaintiff moved for a temporary restraining order. After an ex parte hearing on the matter, the court granted the motion. It ordered Defendants to appear on April 11, 1995 to show cause why Plaintiffs motion for preliminary injunction should not be granted. It also ordered, inter alia, expedited discovery, the freezing of Defendants’ assets, and an accounting of all funds received pursuant to the scheme described in the complaint. The court also appointed a receiver and scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing on April 11, 1995. At the hearing, Plaintiff presented testimony through one live witness. All parties offered documentary exhibits into evidence. 1 Having considered the evidence, arguments, and filings of counsel, the court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Between April 1993 and April 1994, Telecom-Mobile, a marketing firm controlled by Smith, offered and sold units in a general partnership formed to invest in a wireless cable television system in Mobile, Alabama. 2 The partnership was called Mobile Wireless Partners General Partnership (“Mobile Partners”). Midas, which is controlled by Jolcover, also promoted the offering. Midas had obtained the rights to certain wireless cable licenses in Mobile for approximately $300,-000. It transferred its rights to a joint venture and then was to sell up to 75% of the joint venture to Mobile Partners. The promotional materials do not disclose the price Midas paid for the licenses. They show, however, that Telecom-Mobile intended to sell 2450 units in the partnership (raising approximately $10.5 million) and that $2 million in working capital would be invested. 3 The partnership agreement states that 15% of the partners’ capital contributions may be distributed as commissions to selling agents; however, in reality, up to 50% of the proceeds raised went to sales commissions.

Some of the Mobile Partners’ promotional materials state that the lease for the four Mobile channels designated as the F-Group was assigned to Midas and an FCC error delayed license issuance to the lessor. The record shows that in December 1992, Jolcover entered into an agreement with the lessee of the F-Group channels. Their owner, the lessor, actually held the FCC license for the channels. However, in August 1993, the lessee learned that the FCC had revoked the license for the F-Group channels and discussed this with Jolcover. Thus, Jolcover knew in August 1993 that the promotional materials incorrectly stated the resources of the Mobile wireless cable business. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) subsequently informed Plaintiff that the licenses for the F-Group channels had not been issued and there were no pending applications for the licenses. In fact, the FCC placed a freeze on applications to acquire channels in Mobile.

*1163 Articles included in the Mobile promotional materials also touted the expertise of certain participants in the wireless cable business, including the Mitchell Communications Corporation (“Mitchell”). The materials state that Mitchell had secured financing to build wireless systems in over forty markets and was poised to expand nationwide in a very short time. In reality, however, by late 1992 the financing had evaporated and Mitchell’s president had informed Jolcover that Mitchell was selling its licenses because it lacked the necessary funding to develop the market.

Beginning in April 1994, Telecom-Madison, a marketing firm also controlled by Smith, offered and sold units in a general partnership formed to acquire a controlling interest in a preexisting wireless cable television system in Madison, Wisconsin. Midas also promoted the offering. The partnership was called Wisconsin Wireless Partners General Partnership (“Wisconsin Partners”). Through a subsidiary of Midas, Jolcover paid $750,000 for the preexisting cable system. The Madison promotional materials did not disclose the price of the preexisting cable system, but revealed that the wireless system was to be transferred to a joint venture and up to 90% of the system was to be sold to Wisconsin Partners. The promotional materials also show that the promoters agreed to provide $2.1 million in working capital funds and intended to sell 3,850 units in the partnership at prices ranging from $3,750 to $5,450 per unit, raising approximately $18 million. 4 The partnership agreement indicates that 15% of the partners’ capital contributions may be distributed as commissions to selling agents. However, up to 50% of the proceeds raised went to sales commissions. An investor’s deposition testimony indicates that Smith, Jolcover, Midas, Telecom-Madison, their agents, and others retained a 15% to 18% interest in Wisconsin Partners.

Century, Tri-Star, and Brixel operated a network of telemarketing sales rooms which solicited investors in these partnerships throughout the country. 5 These corporations were run by Schroeder, Iwankowski, and Field respectively. Potential investors were contacted, screened, and sent Telecom-Mobile or Telecom-Madison’s written promotional materials. These materials were substantially similar except that the Mobile offering was intended to build a new wireless system and the Madison offering was to acquire the preexisting wireless system. The promotional materials were followed up by high pressure, scripted telephone sales solicitations.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
888 F. Supp. 1160, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7342, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/securities-exchange-commission-v-telecom-marketing-inc-gand-1995.