They defrauded over 735 people of $50 million, resulting in several court actions both civil and criminal cases, and imprisonment of the three Tri Energy associates.
Flanigan became alarmed when she heard her own widowed mother and her aunt were involved as both participants and recruiters for what appeared to be a classic get-rich-quick scheme.
They showed Simburg leading the meetings, with Jennings speaking about the coal mine project and Jones offering updates on the alleged gold transaction.
The lawsuit "Securities and Exchange Commission v. Tri Energy, Inc., H & J Energy Company, Inc., Marina Investors Group, Inc., Lowell Decker, Robert Jennings, Henry Jones, Arthur Simburg, Mildred Stultz, DJM, LLC, Financial MD, Inc., Financial MD and Associates, Inc., Daniel J. Merriman, Global Village Records, and La Vie D'Argent, as defendants, and R.P.J.
California)[3] resulted in a judgement of $51 million against Tri Energy, Inc. and defendants Arthur Simburg and Robert Jennings for their role in a massive affinity fraud and Ponzi Scheme.