O.C. Man Accused of Fraud
The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday accused an Orange County man of raising $29.5 million fraudulently in a series of alleged scams involving a golf equipment company, infomercials for the company and other businesses.
The SEC said it filed an emergency lawsuit Thursday in federal court in Santa Ana against Colin Nathanson, 54, of Coto de Caza. U.S. District Judge Gary Taylor froze the assets of Nathanson and nine of his businesses Friday, appointing Thomas Seaman as a temporary receiver to manage them, the SEC said.
Nathanson’s attorney, Carol Houck, could not be reached for comment.
The SEC identified the businesses involved as Nathanson Investment Trust, Giant Golf Co., Play Big Enterprises Inc., Starquest Management Inc., Whitehawk Consulting Group Inc., Leafhead Consultants Inc., NetTel Consulting Corp., Yrmac Consulting Services Inc. and Millennium Technical Group Inc.
The SEC said Nathanson raised money from more than 1,800 investors nationwide and improperly used at least $1 million of the funds to support an extravagant lifestyle, including three homes and payment of $346,500 in gambling-related debts.
A hearing in the suit was set for next Monday, the SEC said.
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