Robert Pearce: Questions Raised About SEC's Delayed Prosecution of Citigroup for MAT/ASTA Fraud

BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent front page Wall Street Journal article  ("Citi Debt Funds Probe By SEC," 11/8/10) highlights the ongoing SEC MAT/ASTA fraud investigation of Citigroup, Inc. and its affiliates.  The WSJ reported about several former Citigroup/Smith Barney financial advisors sharing information with the SEC about the sales practices associated with the MAT/ASTA funds that lost more than 75% of their value between 2007 and 2008.  The brokers who were mentioned in the WSJ article "blew the whistle" on Citigroup because they obviously believed that it had falsely marketed a flawed product to the brokers' best customers and engaged in other misconduct.  The recent $1.8 million arbitration award obtained by Robert Pearce in Kazma v. Citigroup and mentioned in the WSJ article may provide support for the brokers' efforts.

In Kazma, Mr. Pearce proved the MAT/ASTA funds were marketed as a low risk fixed income alternative but they were actually a very high risk equity type alternative investments.  He also proved that Citigroup made representations about how it would invest the funds and deviated from those investment guidelines to suit its own financial interests.  In Kazma, the arbitrators specifically found that Citigroup was guilty of "negligent mismanagement" and "negligent supervision."  The $1.8 million dollar Kazma Award obtained by Mr. Pearce proved the MAT/ASTA debacle was a "product problem" and not a "broker problem."  Mr. Pearce reports that Citigroup has even stipulated in one recent arbitration Award that this was a "product problem."

It has been over two and a half years since the SEC began its investigation and yet it has done nothing for MAT/ASTA investors.  In the last year, Mr. Pearce has prosecuted thirteen (13) MAT/ASTA fraud arbitration claims to final resolution.  He has reviewed millions of pages of the same documents Citigroup produced to the SEC that evidence misrepresentation and mismanagement of the MAT/ASTA funds.  Mr. Pearce, a former SEC prosecutor, states: "there is no plausible explanation for the SEC's delayed prosecution of Citigroup" and urges all Citigroup financial advisors to take the action necessary to get justice for their best customers.

Although Mr. Pearce's offices are located in Boca Raton, Florida, he represents MAT/ASTA investors nationwide.  You may contact Mr. Pearce by telephone toll free 800-732-2889, by e-mail to [email protected] or via his website at www.secatty.com for a free MAT/ASTA Investor Report.

SOURCE The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A.