OFI v. Robbins

Recent Developments in the OFI v. Jewell Robbins Case

Franklin Circuit Court Case 06-CI-114

Oct. 30, 2007

Attorneys for OFI and Jewell Robbins met in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 30, before Judge Thomas D. Wingate. OFI's attorney said, to the best of OFI's knowledge, Robbins has provided the documents required by the contempt of court order. An additional document named in OFI's subpoena had not been provided, and Robbins' attorney has 20 days to supply it. The terms of the voluntary injunction will continue to be enforced, which means Robbins still may not sell securities in Kentucky. The judge pointed out that Robbins is under a duty to update OFI on her activities, and OFI will set periodic review dates to ensure she is not selling.

July 25, 2007
On July 25, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate granted OFI's request for a 90-day extension in OFI's case against Jewell Robbins. OFI's attorney said documents, including a more detailed investor list, were provided and OFI needed more time to review them. A review of compliance was scheduled Friday, Oct. 26, in Franklin Circuit Court. However, the Franklin Circuit Court rescheduled the hearing to Tuesday, Oct. 30. Anyone who has invested with Robbins was invited to provide information to OFI to help authenticate the investor list before the hearing date. OFI required the following information to be mailed or e-mailed in a written format: name, address, how much was invested, when it was invested, how the money was paid and a description of what was purchased. 

May 10, 2007
Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate signed an order [PDF 275K] on May 10 finding Jewell Robbins in contempt of court for “a willful, knowing violation” of an injunction forbidding her from continuing to sell unregistered securities. OFI obtained the injunction in 2006 and requested the contempt of court order issued by Wingate. The judge sentenced Robbins to 120 days in the Franklin County Jail but suspended the jail time on condition that she comply with his order and the original injunction. A review of compliance is scheduled for July 25 at 10 a.m. in Franklin Circuit Court. For more information, read OFI’s press release.

April 25, 2007
Attorneys for OFI and Jewell Robbins met in Franklin Circuit Court on April 25 to discuss OFI's motion for summary judgment on OFI's motion for contempt. The judge decided to proceed with the May 1 hearing as planned, so he denied the summary judgment motion. OFI filed the following affidavit: Affidavit in Response to Respondent’s Response to Motion for Summary Judgment. [PDF 84K]

For additional information, please visit the following OFI Web sites:

Press Releases

Securities Enforcement Actions
(Note: 6/12/06 permanent injunction and 8/23/05 show cause order)

• In the 1980s, Robbins began selling unregistered securities in the form of “interests in litigation.” She sold to investors fractional interests in what she might recover as a result of lawsuits filed on behalf of heirs attempting to obtain shares of inheritance from the Spindletop oil strike in Texas. (The lawsuits were dismissed.)
• Robbins also sold interest in an alleged judgment for billions of dollars and a movie to be titled “Swindletop.”
• Investors have told OFI officials that Robbins claimed the government or a certified public accountant was holding money for disbursement. Robbins has been unable to provide OFI with any documentation to support this claim and admitted in court on May 1, 2007, that she had not recovered any substantial funds.
• No investor has received any money from Robbins’ specious offerings.
• Robbins has never registered the securities she is selling with OFI’s Securities Division.
• In 2003, the state Attorney General’s Office obtained an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance from Robbins. The document states that Robbins, who signed the document, agrees that she, her agents, employees, representatives, etc., will “immediately cease and desist from advertising, soliciting and accepting money from any natural person for the assignment of any interest in future and/or pending litigation involving the estate of James Meaders or the William R. Meadows’ Estate.”
• OFI obtained a permanent injunction in June 2006 to prohibit Jewell Robbins, aka Jewell Burgin, from offering or selling securities without OFI approval. OFI’s complaint alleged Robbins failed to disclose the exact nature of the investment to potential investors and the offering was not registered.
• The injunction also required Robbins to assist OFI in identifying all her investors and furnish OFI with her banking information.
• In October 2006, OFI filed a contempt of court motion against Robbins. The motion alleges three violations of the voluntary permanent injunction: (1) she continued selling securities, (2) failed to assist OFI by identifying her investors and (3) failed to supply OFI with names and locations of financial institutions in which she and her associates maintained accounts.
• For information on more recent court actions, please see the information at the top of this page.

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• Investors have a right to full disclosure of information related to a potential investment.
• It is a good idea to contact your securities administrator before investing. Call the Securities Division of OFI at 800-223-2579 with questions about an investment product, broker or adviser before making an investment.

Office of Financial Institutions
1025 Capital Center Drive
Suite 200
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-573-3390
Fax: 502-573-0086
E-mail: kfi@ky.gov