2023-09-22
Added · Updated
The Connecticut Banking Commissioner orders Burns Capital Investments LLC and Thomas Zachary Burns to cease and desist from violating the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act, including offering unregistered securities, engaging in fraudulent and dishonest practices, and operating as an unregistered investment adviser. The Respondents are required to make restitution to investors from whom they raised at least $148,000 through misrepresentations regarding a cryptocurrency fund and artificial intelligence trading. The Commissioner also issues a notice of intent to impose fines for these violations and for the Respondents' failure to comply with investigative subpoenas.
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IN THE MATTER OF: * ORDER TO MAKE RESTITUTION
*
BURNS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LLC * NOTICE OF INTENT TO FINE * THOMAS ZACHARY BURNS * AND *
Section 36b-27(a) of the Act; (b) order that Respondents make restitution pursuant to Section 36b-27(b)
of the Act; and (c) impose a fine upon Respondents pursuant to Section 36b-27(d) of the Act.
II. RESPONDENTS
4. BCI is a Connecticut limited liability company that was formed on March 31, 2021. BCI’s
principal place of business and addresses last known to the Commissioner are: 16A Windsor Street, Enfield, Connecticut 06082; and 1401 Windsor Station Drive, Windsor, Connecticut 06095. BCI is not and has not been registered in any capacity under the Act. BCI had an office located at 174 South Road, Suite 100, Enfield, Connecticut 06082, but it has been closed.
5. Burns is an individual whose address last known to the Commissioner is 1401 Windsor Station
Drive, Windsor, Connecticut 06095. Burns is the founding member and manager of BCI. Burns is not and has not been registered in any capacity under the Act.
III. STATEMENT OF FACTS
6. Burns engages or has engaged in the securities and/or investment advisory business individually
and through BCI.
7. From approximately December 2021 through August 2022, Burns, on behalf of himself and
BCI, raised at least one hundred forty-eight thousand dollars ($148,000) from at least nine (9) investors (“Investors”), at least five of whom were Connecticut residents, for the purported purpose of pooling such funds in an account managed by Respondents and investing such funds in cryptocurrency on behalf of the Investors (“BCI Cryptocurrency Fund”).
8. Respondents represented to the Investors that their funds would be pooled and invested in the
BCI Cryptocurrency Fund and would be managed by Respondents who would make all the investment decisions. The interests in the BCI Cryptocurrency Fund were not registered under the Act.
9. Respondents received compensation, directly or indirectly, for managing and purportedly
investing the Investors’ pooled interests in the BCI Cryptocurrency Fund.
No Commitment Option: Funds can be withdrawn at any time. There is no cooldown period once your initial deposit is processed. Capital Gains are reported with each executed trade. 1099 forms are issued before January 31st. Your 1099 will be delivered electronically in the message center on your account, unless you request a mailed copy. SPECIAL lowered fee of 3% on PROFIT only. Crypto Fund Option: Your initial deposit is locked for 12 months from the date it is credited to your account. After 6 months, you are eligible to withdraw any profit made from your investments (minus a SPECIAL lowered fee of 1% respectively on PROFIT only). The highest fee applies to accounts with deposits <= 1k, the moderate fee applies to accounts with deposits >=5k, and the lowest fee applies to accounts with deposits>=10k. Your initial investment plus any subsequent deposits are held until the 12 month maturity date, which occurs 12 months after your initial deposit is deposited to your account. Your deposits will be converted to USDT and used to purchase shares of the BCI Cryptocurrency Fund. The proceeds are used to purchase crypto in a Master Account. The shares go up in value in accordance with the amount held in the pool. Capital Gains are only reported upon selling shares. Your 1099 will be delivered electronically in the message center on your account, unless you request a mailed copy.
14. The end of the Client Agreement provided a place to sign the Client Agreement and stated that
“By Signing here, you agree to all terms of this contract, and understand that cryptocurrency is an investment and returns are NOT guaranteed. All stats provided in the initial call were based on the average performance since November 2020.”
15. There were similar versions of Client Agreements that other Investors received that stated
different percentage of fees that applied to any profits withdrawn from the Investors’ accounts.
16. BCI has never been licensed and regulated by the Commissioner under Sections 36a-595 to
36a-612, inclusive, of the General Statutes of Connecticut governing money transmitters, nor has BCI been licensed and regulated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury.
17. Respondents also gave financial advice to at least one Investor who resided in Connecticut.
Respondents told the Investor that they would purchase stocks on the Investor’s behalf and exercise discretion over the account.
The Investors did not have any input into how the money they invested with Respondents was
going to be managed. Burns, directly and through BCI, controlled all investment decisions.
Burns established a business checking account in the name of BCI in September 2021 (“BCI
Bank Account”). Respondents used the BCI Bank Account to deposit Investors’ funds. Burns was the sole signatory on the BCI Bank Account.
Burns claimed that he established an account at Coinbase in the name of BCI and that Coinbase
was the only cryptocurrency exchange that Respondents used.
Cryptocurrency exchanges such as Coinbase allow anyone with an account to buy, sell and
exchange cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional brokerage firms, cryptocurrency exchanges are not members of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC). Therefore, unless user terms specify otherwise, investors with cryptocurrency assets commingled on a custodial cryptocurrency exchange could potentially lose their funds as unsecured creditors.
BCI did not have a cryptocurrency account at Coinbase and never purchased Cryptocurrency in
the name of BCI.
Burns established two accounts in his name at Coinbase, only one of which had any trading
history. As of December 14, 2022, the account with no trading history had had a zero balance and the other account had a negative balance due to returned payments.
The Investors believed, because of Respondents’ misrepresentations, that: BCI was a
cryptocurrency investment firm that Burns would use to pool their investments, Respondents used artificial intelligence to trade on the Investors’ behalf, that Burns had a patent for his artificial intelligence, and that BCI was licensed and regulated by the “State of Connecticut Money Transmitter Licensing Division” and by FinCEN. In reality, Burns commingled some the Investors’ money with his own money and diverted some of the Investors’ money for his personal use. In addition, Respondents did not have any patent for artificial intelligence, and BCI was not licensed and regulated by the Commissioner under Sections 36a-595 to 36a-612, inclusive, of the General Statutes of Connecticut governing money transmitters, or by FinCEN.
Respondents failed to pay some of the Investors any purported profits and failed to return some
of the Investors’ principal investment.
In September 2022, Burns signed a check from the BCI Bank Account in the amount of
$48,500 to one of the Investors. The check was returned for insufficient funds.
To hide their conduct, Respondents provided at least one Investor with falsified monthly
account statements.
From approximately December 2021 to August 2022, in connection with the offers and sales of
the interests in the BCI Cryptocurrency Fund, Burns, directly and through BCI: (a) accepted approximately at least one hundred forty-eight thousand dollars ($148,000) from Investors, representing to the Investors that such money would be used for the purpose of investing their funds when only a portion of such investments were ever made; and (b) failed to inform Investors that Respondents would use part of the Investors’ money and investment gains for Burn’s personal expenses.
Respondents failed to disclose to purchasers and prospective purchasers of interests in the BCI
Cryptocurrency Fund, inter alia, risk factors related to the investment, including, without limitation, any financial or employment information on Burns or BCI, or that that Burns would use part of the Investors’ money for personal expenses. Each of these omitted items was material to the Investors and prospective investors.
On October 27, 2022, the Division issued a subpoena duces tecum to Burns (“Burns
Subpoena”). On January 4, 2023, the Division also served a custodian of records subpoena on BCI with Burns as custodian of records (“BCI Subpoena”).
Respondents failed to produce any records required by the Burns Subpoena and BCI Subpoena,
and this failure to produce any records impeded the Division’s ability to obtain relevant testimony. Despite numerous attempts to arrange the appearance of Burns and the production of requested records, no documents or complete testimony were provided to the Division.
Burns appeared and testified under oath on behalf of himself and BCI that he would produce
responsive documents to the Division as required by the Burns Subpoena and BCI Subpoena.
Respondents have never produced any of the subpoenaed documents that they had agreed to
provide to the Division during their sworn testimony.
Burns testified that he established an account at Coinbase in the name of BCI and that Coinbase
was the only cryptocurrency exchange, and that Respondents used the BCI account at Coinbase to trade cryptocurrency on behalf of the Investors. Burns also testified that he had patented his artificial intelligence, that he drew a salary of $120,000 per year, and that he turned $1.5 million into $2.1 billion dollars through his cryptocurrency trading.
On March 23, 2023, the Commissioner filed a verified application for enforcement of
subpoenas in Superior Court for the Judicial District of Hartford (Perez v. Burns, Thomas, et al; Docket No. HHDCV236167000S). The application sought an order enforcing immediate compliance with the Burns Subpoena and an order enforcing immediate compliance with the BCI Subpoena (“Subpoena Enforcement Application”).
On April 6, 2023, the Superior Court granted the Subpoena Enforcement Application and
ordered Burns and BCI to produce records responsive to the two subpoenas by April 19, 2023, and to testify via Microsoft Office Teams on April 26, 2023.
On May 25, 2023, the Commissioner moved for a court order finding the defendants, Burns
and BCI, in contempt of court for failure to comply with the court’s April 6, 2023, order and judgment.
The Hartford Superior Court scheduled an in-person hearing on the Department’s Motion for
Contempt for Monday, July 31, 2023, at 10 a.m.
On July 31, 2023, Judge Sicilian found Burns in contempt of court for his willful refusal to
produce records responsive to the Burns Subpoena and BCI Subpoena served on him by the Department. Judge Sicilian gave Burns 30 days to produce these records and, if Burns failed to do so, Burns would be subject to fines and possibly detention. The 30-day period expired on Thursday, August 31, 2023. The Department has not received any of the records that the court ordered the defendants to produce.
IV. STATUTORY BASIS FOR ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST,
ORDER TO MAKE RESTITUTION AND ORDER IMPOSING FINE a. Violation of Section 36b-16 of the Act – Offer and Sale of Unregistered Securities
40. Paragraphs 1 through 39, inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
41. The investment pool interests in the BCI Cryptocurrency Fund constitute securities within the
meaning of Section 36b-3(19) of the Act, which securities were not registered under Section 36b-16 of the Act, nor were they the subject of a filed exemption claim or claim of covered security status.
42. Respondents offered and sold securities in and/or from Connecticut to at least nine investors, as
more fully described in paragraphs 4 through 29, inclusive, which securities were not registered in Connecticut under the Act, as more fully described in paragraph 41. The offer and sale of such securities absent registration constitutes a violation of Section 36b-16 of the Act, which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against Respondents under Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, an order that Respondents make restitution under Section 36b-27(b) of the Act, and for the imposition of a fine upon Respondents under Section 36b-27(d) of the Act. b. Violation of Section 36b-4(a) of the Act – Fraud in Connection with the Offer and Sale of any Security
43. Paragraphs 1 through 42, inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
44. The conduct of Respondents, as more fully described in paragraphs 4 through 29, inclusive,
constitutes, in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud, making an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or engaging in an act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person. Such conduct constitutes a violation of
Section 36b-4(a) of the Act, which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against
Respondents under Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, an order that Respondents make restitution under
Section 36b-27(b) of the Act, and for the imposition of a fine upon Respondents under Section 36b-27(d)
of the Act.
c. Violation of Section 36b-4(b) of the Act –
Engaging in Dishonest or Unethical Practices in Connection with the Offer and Sale of any Security
45. Paragraphs 1 through 44 inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
46. The conduct of Respondents, as more fully described in paragraphs 4 through 29, inclusive,
constitutes, in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly engaging in dishonest or unethical practices. Such conduct constitutes a violation of Section 36b-4(b) of the Act, which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against Respondents under
Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, an order that Respondents make restitution under Section 36b-27(b) of the
Act, and for the imposition of a fine upon Respondents under Section 36b-27(d) of the Act. d. Violation of Section 36b-6(c)(1) of the Act – Unregistered Investment Adviser Activity
47. Paragraphs 1 through 46, inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
48. Burns, individually and under the auspices of BCI, transacted business as an investment adviser
in Connecticut absent registration under the Act, as more fully described in paragraphs 4 through 29, inclusive. Such conduct constitutes a violation of Section 36b-6(c)(1) of the Act, which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against Respondents under Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, an order that Respondents make restitution under Section 36b-27(b) of the Act, and for the imposition of a fine upon Respondents under Section 36b-27(d) of the Act.
e. Violation of Section 36b-5(a) of the Act –
Fraudulent Investment Adviser Activity
49. Paragraphs 1 through 48, inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
50. The conduct of Respondents, as more fully described in paragraphs 4 through 29, inclusive, in
connection with directly or indirectly receiving compensation or other remuneration for advising another person as to the value of securities or their purchase or sale, whether through the issuance of analyses or reports or otherwise, constitutes employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud, making an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or engaging in an act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such other person. Such conduct constitutes a violation of Section 36b-5(a) of the Act, which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against Respondents under Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, an order that Respondents make restitution under Section 36b-27(b) of the Act, and for the imposition of a fine upon Respondents under Section 36b-27(d) of the Act. f. Violation of Section 36b-5(f) of the Act – Dishonest or Unethical Practice in Connection with Investment Adviser Activity
51. Paragraphs 1 through 50, inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
52. The conduct of Respondents, as more fully described in paragraphs 4 through 29, inclusive, in
connection with directly or indirectly receiving compensation or other remuneration for advising another person as to the value of securities or their purchase or sale, whether through the issuance of analyses or reports or otherwise, or soliciting advisory business on behalf of a person constitutes engaging in a dishonest or unethical practice in connection with the rendering of such advice or in connection with such solicitation. Such conduct constitutes a violation of Section 36b-5(f) of the Act, which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against Respondents pursuant to Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, an
order that Respondents make restitution under Section 36b-27(b) of the Act, the imposition of a fine upon Respondents pursuant to Section 36b-27(d) of the Act. g. Violation of Section 36b-23 of the Act – Materially False or Misleading Statements in Connection with an Investigation
53. Paragraphs 1 through 52, inclusive, are incorporated and made a part hereof as if more fully set
forth herein.
54. The conduct of Respondents, as more fully described in paragraphs 30 through 39, inclusive,
constitutes a violation of Section 36b 23 of the Act; which forms a basis for an order to cease and desist to be issued against Respondents under Section 36b-27(a) of the Act, and for the imposition of a fine upon Respondents under Section 36b-27(d) of the Act.
V. ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST, ORDER TO MAKE RESTITUTION,
NOTICE OF INTENT TO FINE AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO HEARING WHEREAS, as a result of the Investigation, the Commissioner finds that, with respect to the activity described herein, BCI has committed at least one violation of Section 36b-16 of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-4(a) of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-4(b) of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-6(c)(1) of the Act, at least one violation of Section of 36b-5(a) of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-5(f) of the Act, and at least one violation of 36b-23 of the Act; WHEREAS, as a result of the Investigation, the Commissioner finds that, with respect to the activity described herein, Burns has committed at least one violation of Section 36b-16 of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-4(a) of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-4(b) of the Act, at least one violation of Section of 36b-6(c)(1) of the Act, at least one violation of Section of 36b-5(a) of the Act, at least one violation of Section 36b-5(f) of the Act, and at least one violation of Section 36b-23 of the Act; WHEREAS, the Commissioner further finds that the issuance of an Order to Cease and Desist, Order to Make Restitution, and the imposition of a fine upon Respondents is necessary or appropriate in
the public interest or for the protection of investors and consistent with the purposes fairly intended by the policies and provisions of the Act; WHEREAS, notice is hereby given to Respondents that the Commissioner intends to impose a maximum fine not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per violation upon Respondents; WHEREAS, the Commissioner ORDERS that BURNS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LLC, its affiliates and successors in interest CEASE AND DESIST from directly or indirectly violating the provisions of the Act, including without limitation: (a) offering and selling unregistered securities in and/or from Connecticut; (b) in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud, making an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or engaging in an act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person; (c) in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly engaging in dishonest or unethical practices; (d) transacting business as an investment adviser in Connecticut absent registration under the Act; (e) in connection with directly or indirectly receiving compensation or other remuneration for advising another person as to the value of securities or their purchase or sale, whether through the issuance of analyses or reports or otherwise, employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud, making an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or engaging in an act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such other person; (f) engaging in dishonest or unethical practices in connection with the rendering of investment advice or the solicitation of investment advisory business; and (g) during the course of an agency investigation, making statements to the Commissioner that are, at the time and in light of the circumstances under which they are made, false or misleading in a material respect, and omitting to state material facts necessary to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false or misleading in violation of Section 36b 23 of the Act;
WHEREAS, the Commissioner ORDERS that THOMAS ZACHARY BURNS CEASE AND DESIST from directly or indirectly violating the provisions of the Act, including without limitation:
(a) offering and selling unregistered securities in and/or from Connecticut; (b) in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud, making an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or engaging in an act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person; (c) in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly engaging in dishonest or unethical practices; (d) transacting business as an investment adviser in Connecticut absent registration under the Act; (e) in connection with directly or indirectly receiving compensation or other remuneration for advising another person as to the value of securities or their purchase or sale, whether through the issuance of analyses or reports or otherwise, employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud, making an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or engaging in an act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such other person; (f) engaging in dishonest or unethical practices in connection with the rendering of investment advice or the solicitation of investment advisory business; and (g) during the course of an agency investigation, making statements to the Commissioner that are, at the time and in light of the circumstances under which they are made, false or misleading in a material respect, and omitting to state material facts necessary to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false or misleading in violation of Section 36b-23 of the Act; WHEREAS, the Commissioner ORDERS that RESPONDENTS MAKE RESTITUTION of any sums obtained as a result of Respondents’ violations of Sections 36b-4(a), 36b-4(b), 36b-5(a), 36b-5(f), 36b-6(c)(1), and 36b-16 of the Act, plus interest at the legal rate set forth in Section 37-1 of the General Statutes of Connecticut. Specifically, the Commissioner ORDERS that:
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. If a hearing is requested, the hearing will be held on November 15, 2023, at 10 a.m. If a hearing is requested, it will be held in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 54 of the General Statutes of Connecticut, unless a Respondent fails to appear at the requested hearing. At such hearing, each Respondent will have the right to appear and present evidence, rebuttal evidence and argument on all issues of fact and law to be considered by the Commissioner. Any remote hearing will be held in accordance with Section 149 of June Special Session Public Act 21-2, and the Remote Hearing Guidelines available on the Department’s website at https://portal.ct.gov/dob. If any Respondent does not request a hearing within the time period prescribed or fails to appear at any such hearing, the allegations herein against any such Respondent will be deemed admitted. Accordingly, the Order to Cease and Desist and Order to Make Restitution shall remain in effect and become permanent against any such Respondent and the Commissioner may order that the maximum fine be imposed upon any such Respondent. Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 18th day of September 2023. /s/__________ Jorge L. Perez Banking Commissioner
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that on this 18th day of September 2023, I caused to be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, the foregoing Order to Cease and Desist, Order to Make Restitution, Notice of Intent to Fine and Notice of Right to Hearing to: Burns Capital Investments LLC at: 16A Windsor Street, Enfield, Connecticut 06082, certified mail no. 7022 1670 0002 0923 2722; and 1401 Windsor Station Drive, Windsor, Connecticut 06095, certified mail no. 7022 1670 0002 0923 2715; and to Thomas Zachary Burns at 1401 Windsor Station Drive, Windsor, Connecticut 06095, certified mail no. 7022 1670 0002 0923 2739. /s/__________ Jackie Wilkey Administrative Assistant
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Source: Connecticut Department of Banking — original document · Summary generated with machine assistance and reviewed before publication; the authoritative text is the regulator's original document. How RegAlert works
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