Fake Veterinarian Consents to Findings in $4.7-Million Scheme

A man who posed as a fake veterinarian has reportedly consented to findings that he aided a Clinton, MO man in allegedly soliciting investors from several states in a $4.7-million cattle fraud scheme.

According to information from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division a consent order was issued with Robert D. Hawkins, who reportedly consented to findings that he aided Cameron J. Hager, of Clinton, MO, in allegedly soliciting over 90 investors from at least 21 different states.

The FBI, in coordination with the secretary of state’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, arrested Cameron J. Hager, of Clinton, MO on April 3.

The division’s findings allege that Hawkins posed as a veterinarian for Hager’s company, 5A Holdings LLC, to show investors cattle that he claimed were owned by 5A.

A press release from Ashcroft's office indicates that Hager stated in marketing materials that the average return on investment was 23.71%, in just 138 days. No cattle were purchased, and Hager allegedly used at least $1.2 million of investor funds to pay commissions for referring others to invest, alleged returns on investments and personal expenses.

Hawkins pretended to be the veterinarian for 5A Holding, taking investors to several cattle farms that he stated held the company’s cattle, according to Ashcroft's office.

Per the order, Hawkins will pay $20,000 to the Investor Education and Protection Fund, with $10,000 suspended for 10 years, so long he doesn’t violate the Missouri Securities Act or the terms of the order. According to the the Securities Division, he is restrained from selling securities and barred from registering as an investment agent in Missouri. Hawkins will also cooperate with the division in any pending proceedings in this matter, according to Ashcroft's office.

The division also ordered unregistered agent George Myers Jr., of Springfield, to cease and desist after allegedly misleading a man in the sale of $37,500 in securities.

The Enforcement Section alleges that from approximately September 2016 to June 2017 Myers offered and sold a total of $37,500 in securities to a Missouri resident in the form of promissory notes.

Myers then allegedly solicited funds on a number of occasions, promising the investor multiple times, to receive returns once Myers finalized his divorce, which he stated would grant him $1.3-million in assets. The investor was promised returns totaling $88,121, and to date has not received any.

The division also ordered Myers to show cause why he should not be ordered to pay restitution plus interest, civil penalties, and investigation costs totaling more than $52,500.

The division issued a final order against unregistered agent Colin P. Purcell and iPractice Group Inc. to cease and desist after misleading investors in the sale of $905,600 in securities.

Purcell and iPractice are ordered to pay restitution plus interest, civil penalties, and investigation costs totaling more than $800,000.