FSA Charges Unregulated Futures Trader for Unauthorised Investment Scheme

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has charged Benjamin Edward Weymouth Wilson of Bournemouth, Dorset, with seven offences relating to an unauthorised investment scheme he operated.

Mr Wilson, trading as SureInvestment, operated a scheme that purported to carry out futures trading for the benefit of its investors.

The charges follow searches of two premises in Poole owned or controlled by Mr Wilson that were conducted by the FSA with the assistance of the Dorset Police on 28 June 2011. Mr Wilson was arrested at the same time.

The charges are as follows:

• operating a collective investment scheme without authorisation or exemption, contrary to sections 19 and 23 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA);
• making false, misleading or deceptive statements, contrary to section 397(1)(a) and 2 FSMA;
• making false, misleading or deceptive statements, contrary to section 397(1)(a) and 2(a) FSMA;
• two counts of forgery, contrary to section 1 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 (Forgery Act);
• using a false instrument, contrary to section 3 of the Forgery Act; and
• fraud, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006.

Mr Wilson has been bailed to attend City of London Magistrates Court on 5 October 2012.