James A. Torchia et al.

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 23416 / December 1, 2015

Securities and Exchange Commission v. James A. Torchia et al., Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-03904-WSD (N.D. Ga., filed November 10, 2015)

SEC Announces Emergency Action to Halt Ongoing Investment Fraud Involving Promissory Notes and Life Settlement Contracts

The SEC today announced the entry of a Consent Order ("Order") halting an alleged ongoing investment fraud by James Torchia and various related entities involving the sale of promissory notes and life settlement contracts.

On November 10, 2015, the SEC filed an emergency civil action in federal court in Atlanta against Torchia, a resident of Canton, Georgia, and the following entities that he operates and controls: (i) Credit Nation Capital, LLC (formerly known as Credit Nation Lending, LLC) ("CN Capital"), a Georgia limited liability company in Woodstock Georgia; (ii) Credit Nation Acceptance, LLC ("CN Acceptance"), a Texas limited liability company in Midland, Texas; (iii) Credit Nation Auto Sales, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company in Woodstock, Georgia; (iv) American Motor Credit, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company in Woodstock, Georgia; and (v) Spaghetti Junction, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

The Commission's complaint alleges that since 2009, Torchia, through CN Capital, has raised tens of millions of dollars from investors who purchased unregistered promissory notes, most of which promised a 9% return. The complaint further alleges that CN Capital touts the safety of the promissory notes, describing them to investors as "100% asset backed" and "backed by hard assets dollar for dollar." In reality, according to the complaint, CN Capital has generated substantial losses each year since at least 2011 and is insolvent. The Commission contends that contrary to representations made to investors portraying the notes as a secure investment capable of generating reliable investment returns, CN Capital basically operates as an ongoing Ponzi scheme through which the promised investment returns are paid using new investor money. The complaint alleges that neither CN Capital's multi-million dollar per year operating losses nor its massive insolvency has ever been disclosed to investors.

The complaint also alleges that CN Acceptance sells unregistered fractional interests in life settlement contracts ("LS Interests") to investors and that CN Acceptance promises to pay the policy premiums using a portion of the purchase price. But in practice, according to the complaint, Torchia disregards corporate formalities and commingles CN Acceptance's funds with those of CN Capital, such that the LS Interests are now threatened by CN Capital's Insolvency. The complaint further alleges that Torchia has transferred millions of dollars to entities he controls to support his and his family's other businesses and to pay his personal expenses. According to the complaint, CN Capital and CN Acceptance, on average, have raised in excess of $2 million per month through the sale of notes and LS Interests in the first six months of 2015.

The complaint alleges that the defendants violated and/or aided and abetted or caused violations of the antifraud provisions of the securities laws in Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933. The complaint also alleges that Torchia, CN Capital and CN Acceptance violated the registration provisions of the securities laws in Section 5 of the Securities Act.

On November 20, 2015, the Court approved an Order by which the defendants agreed, among other things, not to offer or sell any additional promissory notes or to advertise investment opportunities via general solicitations. The Order also restricts the defendants' ability to transfer assets and funds and to sell fractional interests in life settlements. A related evidentiary hearing will be held on January 7, 2016.

The Commission thanks the Securities Division of the South Carolina Attorney General's Office for their assistance in this matter.