Indiana Attorney General files multistate lawsuit against precious-metals business over allegedly defrauding elderly victims
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business that allegedly schemed to trick 450 elderly victims, 16 of which being from Indiana, into investing in wildly overvalued precious metals. Safeguard Metals’ customers generally and almost immediately suffered substantial losses on their investments due to fraudulently overpriced products. The company is operated by a California man named Jeffrey Santulan, also known as Jeffrey Hill.
Attorney General Rokita is bringing the lawsuit on behalf of the Indiana Securities Division, which he previously oversaw in his capacity as Indiana Secretary of State. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the 27 states filed this legal action today in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
State financial agencies nationwide are investigating numerous more precious metals investment companies on similar allegations. To prevent any further damages, investors are advised to be particularly cautious when purchasing precious metals and to check for outrageously high commissions, spreads, or markups as high as 30 to 70 percent. As the market continues to fluctuate, authorities anticipate seeing more fraudsters capitalize on investors’ uncertainty and use fear to manipulate consumers out of their hard-earned money.
Those suspecting they have been targeted by precious metals investment schemes may contact the Indiana Securities Division at securities@sos.in.gov or (317) 232-6681.
City Shares Organizational Assessment of Appointed Boards and Commissions
The City of Bloomington released an organizational assessment report of its appointed boards and commissions today. Last year, Mayor John Hamilton called for a third-party assessment of the board and commission structure be undertaken to review and assess their scope, structure, and required resources. The recommendations in the report are intended to build upon the boards and commissions’ many existing contributions and enhance the City’s community-focused approach to decision-making and operations. The report also provides a framework for the City to maximize the efficacy of its existing boards and commissions and evaluate the creation of potential new boards and commissions in the future. In order to be successful, these recommendations will require planned, thoughtful implementation. The report offers more details on these ten recommendations:
Board and Commission Structure:
- Merge the Commission on Sustainability and the Environmental Commission.
- Merge the Parking Commission, Traffic Commission, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission.
- Consolidate park, recreation, and urban forestry-related commissions under the Board of Park Commissioners.
Strategic Focus of Boards and Commissions:
- Evaluate the business case for any potential new board or commission before its creation.
- Require a brief annual report to the Mayor and City Council from each board and commission to ensure the work aligns with the City goals.
Communication and Transparency:
- Require all boards and commissions to record audio or video of their meetings and publish meeting materials to the City website in a timely manner.
- Establish a formal, transparent application process for boards and commissions that includes regular communication with applicants.
Training and Onboarding:
- Develop a formal onboarding program for new board and commission members.
- 9 Define the role of staff liaisons to boards and commissions and develop a formal onboarding program.
- Assign oversight of the board and commission process to a designated position.
The City contracted with Novak Consulting Group to conduct the assessment last year, following similar assessments of ten other City departments. The report will be presented to the City Council for consideration tonight at their 6:30 p.m. meeting. The report can be found here.
Official Memorial Fund for Deputy Rainey and Jail Deputy Northcutt
Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation has established an official memorial fund to honor Deputy Noah Rainey and Jail Deputy Dane Northcutt. On January 29, 2022, Deputy Rainey and Jail Deputy Northcutt tragically lost their lives in a vehicle crash while responding to assist a Rossville Town Deputy Marshal. Deputy Rainey was on duty at the time of the crash. Jail Deputy Northcutt was on a ride-along and off duty at the time of the crash.
The foundation has been designated by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department as the official fundraiser to accept monetary donations on behalf of both families. Anyone who is wishing to donate can visit the 1st Financial Bank in Delphi, IN. There are two separate foundations established, and those donations will go directly to the families of Deputy Rainey and Jail Deputy Northcutt. Donations can also be made by visiting the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation. Donations on this website can be made by PayPal.
INverse Poetry Archive Now Accepting Entries
The Indiana Arts Commission, in partnership with the Indiana State Library, announced that Inverse, the state poetry archive, is accepting entries.to celebrate and preserve the diverse range of Indiana poetry for future generations of Indiana writers and readers. All eligible residents of Indiana are encouraged to submit poems to the archive for review by April 30, 2022.
This Week in Hoosier History
1992 – A fire at the Indianapolis Athletic Club resulted in the deaths of two city firemen and one guest. The cause was determined to be defective wiring in a refrigerator. The tragedy caused the Indianapolis Fire Department to establish new procedures for high-rise fires.
For more local news . . .
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