SEC Obtains Final Consent Judgment Against Ian G. Bell

SEC Litigation Releases

Filed February 23rd, 2026

Detected February 25th, 2026

Summary

The SEC announced it obtained a final consent judgment against Ian G. Bell, a Denver day-trader charged with defrauding investors. Bell raised over $1.3 million from 29 investors by lying about trading performance and misappropriating funds. He is permanently enjoined from securities violations and ordered to pay disgorgement.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has secured a final consent judgment against Ian G. Bell in its civil enforcement action, Case No. 24-cv-03403, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The judgment resolves charges that Bell defrauded at least 29 investors out of more than $1.3 million between July 2020 and March 2023 by misrepresenting his trading performance and misappropriating investor funds for personal use. Bell consented to the judgment without admitting or denying the allegations.

This final judgment permanently enjoins Bell from violating key securities laws, including Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. He is also barred from participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any securities, except for his own personal account. Bell is ordered to pay disgorgement of $339,848.84 plus prejudgment interest, which will be satisfied by a forfeiture order from a parallel criminal case. This action serves as a reminder to regulated entities and investors about the severe consequences of fraudulent trading schemes and misrepresentation.

Source document (simplified)

Ian G. Bell

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 26488 / February 24, 2026

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Ian G. Bell, No. 24-cv-03403 (D. Colo. filed Dec. 9, 2024)

SEC Obtains Final Consent Judgment as to Denver Day-Trader Charged with Defrauding Investors

On February 23, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado entered a final consent judgment as to Ian G. Bell in the SEC’s civil enforcement action that charged Bell in connection with an alleged fraudulent day-trading scheme.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Bell, between July 2020 and March 2023, fraudulently raised more than $1.3 million from at least 29 investors by lying to investors about his trading performance, including by sending fabricated account performance screenshots. The complaint further alleged that Bell lost or squandered nearly all of the investors’ money, misappropriated investor money for his personal use, and, to conceal his fraud, lied about his plans and ability to repay investors.

Without admitting or denying the allegations, Bell consented to entry of the final judgment that permanently enjoins him from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, permanently enjoins him from participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any securities except for his own personal account, and orders him to pay disgorgement of $339,848.84, plus prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of $98,570.64, with these amounts deemed satisfied by the forfeiture order entered in the parallel criminal case United States v. Bell, No. 24-cr-00345-PAB (D. Colo. filed Dec. 3, 2024).

The SEC’s litigation against Bell was conducted by Jodanna Haskins and Ty Cottrill and supervised by Gregory Kasper and Nicholas Heinke, all of the SEC’s Denver Regional Office. The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Mr. Cottrill and supervised by Mr. Heinke.