A civil lawsuit filed on behalf of 31 plaintiffs alleges that Brandon Ellington, a Chicago-area businessman who marketed himself as “Brandon Mr. Finance,” operated a Ponzi-like scheme through his company, Access Capital Today Inc., leaving dozens of Chicago-area investors with significant financial losses. This page reviews what the lawsuit alleges and how investors can protect their rights.
Although Meyer Wilson Werning cannot assist with this particular case, we are still battling Ponzi schemes nationwide. If you or someone you know invested in a Ponzi scheme through a licensed financial professional, broker, or advisor and suffered significant losses, the Ponzi scheme attorneys at Meyer Wilson Werning are reviewing claims now. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Dozens of Investors Allege a Ponzi-Like Scheme Was Ran Through Access Capital Today
Disparti Law Group filed a complaint on behalf of more than two dozen, and later 31, plaintiffs against Brandon Ellington and Access Capital Today Inc. The lawsuit alleges the following:
- Fraudulent investment promises: Ellington allegedly told investors they would receive returns of 40% to 60% on their investments, returns that far exceed what any legitimate investment program could reliably deliver.
- Use of new investor funds to pay earlier investors: The Illinois Secretary of State’s findings characterized the program as a Ponzi-like scheme in which money from newer investors was used to make payments to earlier participants.
- Ceased payments and communication: After allegedly making a few initial payments to investors, Ellington reportedly stopped all payments and cut off contact with his clients.
- Unregistered investment advisory activity: Media reports indicate that Ellington lacked proper registration or credentials as an investment adviser and that Access Capital Today was not registered to sell securities or provide investment advisory services in Illinois.
The Illinois Secretary of State has issued a temporary order of prohibition barring both Ellington and Access Capital Today from acting as an investment adviser or investment adviser representative in or from the state. This type of regulatory action signals that Illinois securities regulators determined there was sufficient evidence of harm to warrant emergency intervention.
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How the Brandon Ellington’s Alleged Ponzi Scheme Operated
Brandon Ellington built his public profile through radio segments and media appearances under the “Mr. Finance” brand, appearing in produced television segments alongside local news anchors to project an air of financial legitimacy.
He allegedly used that credibility to recruit investors into his Access Capital Today program, pressuring them to liquidate retirement accounts, including 401(k)s and IRAs, and take out high-interest personal loans to fund their investments. Ellington allegedly promised monthly payments and annual returns of 40% to 60%, made a small number of initial payments to early investors, and then stopped all distributions and cut off contact entirely.
These are hallmark characteristics of a Ponzi scheme, including outsized return promises, new investor capital used to pay earlier participants, and an eventual collapse when that flow of new money runs dry. The fact that Ellington was allegedly unregistered as an investment adviser compounds the harm, as investors were not protected by the regulatory oversight that applies to licensed financial professionals. Investors should treat guaranteed high fixed returns, pressure to liquidate retirement assets or borrow to invest, a promoter with a media profile but no verifiable registration, and payments that stop without explanation as serious warning signs in any investment opportunity.
How Meyer Wilson Werning Can Help
Many of the 31 people who filed this lawsuit did not simply invest spare cash. They cashed out retirement accounts they had spent decades building, paid early withdrawal penalties, and took on high-interest debt, all because someone with a television presence and a polished brand told them it was the path to financial security. For those people, the alleged harm is not just a loss on paper. It is a retirement that may never recover.
For over 25 years, Meyer Wilson Werning has recovered more than $350 million for investors harmed by licensed professionals. Although our firm is unable to assist in this specific case, if a broker, financial advisor, or other licensed professional steered you into another Ponzi scheme, contact us today for a free and confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brandon “Mr. Finance” Ellington and what is he accused of?
Brandon Ellington is a Chicago-area businessman who marketed himself as “Brandon Mr. Finance” and ran an investment program called Access Capital Today Inc. A lawsuit filed on behalf of 31 investors alleges he ran a Ponzi-like scheme, promising returns of 40% to 60% before stopping payments and cutting off contact entirely.
How did the alleged Brandon Ellington Ponzi scheme work?
According to media reports, Ellington allegedly encouraged investors to liquidate retirement accounts and take out high-interest loans to invest with Access Capital Today, then used new investor money to pay earlier participants until payments stopped. At least one plaintiff reportedly lost approximately $160,000.
Is there a lawsuit against Brandon “Mr. Finance” Ellington and Access Capital Today?
Yes. Disparti Law Group filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of 31 plaintiffs alleging fraud, a Ponzi-like scheme, and misuse of investor funds. Separate litigation has also been reported against Chicago media stations that allegedly lent credibility to Ellington’s “Mr. Finance” segments.
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