UK regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has charged a British man with fraud after he concealed "significant losses" from investors in a £2.67m scheme trading on foreign exchange markets.
The FCA said on 23 April it had launched criminal proceedings against Lee Steven Maggs of Sittingbourne, Kent, for 2 counts of fraud and 1 count of breaching the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Maggs is alleged to have operated an unauthorised investment scheme called 'Kube Trading' which received around £2.67m from investors between 1 March 2019 and 22 January 2021.
The FCA alleges the scheme involved trading contracts for differences in foreign exchange (FX), which is a regulated activity, and that Maggs concealed significant losses from investors.
It is also alleged that he defrauded investors by misrepresenting how the scheme was operated and over the handling of investor funds.
Maggs appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on 23 April 2024. The case was sent to Maidstone Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 21 May 2024.
The 3 counts were: Carrying on regulated activity (namely managing investments) whilst unauthorised, contrary to section 19 and section 23 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; Fraud by abuse of position, contrary to section 1 and section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006; and fraud by false representation, contrary to section 1 and section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Offences under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 carry a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
A person cannot carry on a regulated activity in the UK unless they are FCA authorised or exempt. Breaching this requirement is a criminal offence, which carries a maximum sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment.
