2017-01-27 sec-litreleases complaint 121 KB 28,890 chars

SEC v. Joseph Meli; Matthew Harriton; 875 Holdings, LLC; 127 Holdings, LLC; Advance Entertainment, LLC; Advance Entertainment II, LLC, et al., No. 1:17-cv-00632, Southern District of New York (Jan. 27, 2017) — Complaint

raw: SEC v. JOSEPH MELI

SEC v. JOSEPH MELI, No. 1:17-cv-00632 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 27, 2017)

Caption
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Meli
summary

Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton, along with their controlled entities, defrauded at least 125 investors of $81 million by falsely promising profits from reselling high-demand event tickets like Hamilton, using $48–$51 million to pay earlier investors in a Ponzi scheme and over $2 million for personal luxuries and undisclosed transfers to relief defendants, leading to SEC charges under Sections 17(a) and 10(b)/Rule 10b-5.

paragraph

Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton, together with their entities 875 Holdings, 127 Holdings, Advance Entertainment, and Advance Entertainment II, raised approximately $81 million from at least 125 investors by falsely claiming funds would be used to bulk-purchase and resell tickets to major events like Hamilton and Adele concerts, offering 10% annual returns and profit-sharing. In reality, only about $9 million was used for legitimate ticket purchases, while at least $48–$51 million was diverted to pay earlier investors, sustaining a Ponzi scheme, and over $2 million was spent on personal expenses including jewelry, private school tuition, and casino visits. The SEC charged the defendants with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, seeking asset freezes, disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and permanent injunctions.

narrative

Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton, along with their controlled entities—875 Holdings, 127 Holdings, Advance Entertainment, and Advance Entertainment II—raised approximately $81 million from at least 125 investors across 13 states between January 2015 and October 2016 by falsely promising that funds would be used to purchase and resell tickets to high-demand events such as Hamilton and Adele concerts, with guaranteed 10% annual returns and 50% of residual profits. In truth, only about $9 million of investor funds were ever used for legitimate ticket-related transactions; the vast majority—between $48 million and $51 million—was funneled into paying earlier investors to create the illusion of profitability and sustain the fraud as a Ponzi scheme. At least $1.2 million was transferred directly to Harriton for personal use, while additional funds were funneled through the defendants’ entities to cover personal luxuries including jewelry, private school tuition, and casino expenditures. Approximately $365,800 in illicit proceeds was transferred to relief defendants Jessica Ingber Meli and 127 Partners, LLC, neither of whom had any legitimate claim to the funds. The SEC filed a civil complaint alleging violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, seeking emergency asset freezes, disgorgement of all ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and permanent injunctions to halt further fraud and preserve assets for potential investor restitution.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
ponzi (100%)
Court
Southern District of New York
Case No.
1:17-cv-00632
Victim loss
$81,000,000
Victims
125
Entity
JOSEPH MELI
Classified ponzi(confidence 100%). EDGAR detection: forms Form D· recall 35% / precision 15%. detection rule →
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionJessica Ingber Meli127 Partners, LLCAdventureland, LLCMXCU Holdings, LLCAndy JonesNineteen Two Productions, LLCBaseline TheatricalEmanuel Azenberg875 Holdings, LLCMash Transactions, LLCJoseph Meli127 Holdings, LLCAnna MeliNederlander Organization Inc.Advance Entertainment, LLCJeffrey SellerAdvance Entertainment II, LLCMatthew Harriton127 Iconic Holdings, LLC
Keywords
advance entertainmentmelientertainmentinvestoradvancemeli harritonholdingsharritoninvestor fundsllcfundsinvestorsdocument pageticketsmillion

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 35
  • $81.00M $81 million $10M–$100M
  • $51.00M $51 million $10M–$100M
  • $50.00M $50 million $10M–$100M
  • $48.00M $48 million $10M–$100M
  • $16.30M $16.3 million $10M–$100M
  • $13.00M $13,000,000 $10M–$100M
  • $10.22M $10,220,000 $10M–$100M
  • $9.00M $9 million $1M–$10M
  • $7.70M $7.7 million $1M–$10M
  • $7.10M $7.1 million $1M–$10M
  • $7.00M $7 million $1M–$10M
  • $6.00M $6 million $1M–$10M
Entities 8
  • person apparent investor funds
  • organization Defendants
  • person Defendants
  • person investor funds
  • person Investors
  • person joseph meli
  • person matthew harriton
  • company to jessica ingber meli and to 127 partners, llc
Triples 32
  • Defendants raised approximately $81 million from at least 125 investors
  • Defendants diverted at least $51 million of the incoming investor funds
  • Meli and Harriton represented they would pool investor funds to purchase large blocks of tickets
  • Investors received written contracts which promised full repayment of principal plus a 10% annualized profit
  • Investors were promised 50% of any profits from the ticket resales
  • Meli and Harriton used investor money for personal benefit
  • apparent investor funds were transferred to Harriton directly for his personal use
  • Investor funds were used to make payments for personal expenses, including jewelry purchases, private school tuition payments, and payments to casinos
  • Funds were transferred to Jessica Ingber Meli and to 127 Partners, LLC
  • Defendants violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  • Joseph Meli raised $81 million from at least 125 investors
  • Matthew Harriton raised $81 million from at least 125 investors
  • Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton diverted $51 million of investor funds to perpetuate a Ponzi scheme and enrich themselves
  • Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton represented that investor funds would be pooled to purchase tickets for major events and resold for profit
  • Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton promised full repayment of principal plus 10% annualized profit within one year
  • Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton used $48 million of investor funds to repay other investors and create illusion of profitability
  • Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton transferred $1.2 million to Harriton for personal use
  • Joseph Meli and Matthew Harriton used investor funds for personal expenses including jewelry, private school tuition, and casino payments
  • Joseph Meli transferred funds to Jessica Ingber Meli and 127 Partners, LLC
  • Defendants violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act
  • Joseph Meli raised $81 million
  • Matthew Harriton raised $81 million
  • Defendants diverted $51 million
  • Meli and Harriton represented investment in ticket reselling enterprises
  • Investors received written contracts
  • Meli and Harriton promised 10% annualized profit
  • Defendants used $48 million
  • Harriton received $1.2 million
  • Meli or Harriton controlled entities
  • Investor funds transferred Jessica Ingber Meli
  • Defendants violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act
  • Defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act
Text layers
Extracted body text (28,890c)
1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
  Plaintiff,

 v.

JOSEPH MELI,
MATTHEW HARRITON,
875 HOLDINGS, LLC,
127 HOLDINGS, LLC,
ADVANCE ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, and
ADVANCE ENTERTAINMENT II, LLC,

                                             Defendants,

JESSICA INGBER MELI, and
127 PARTNERS, LLC,

                                             Relief Defendants.

     CIVIL ACTION NO.

     JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

COMPLAINT
 Plaintiff, Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”), alleges as
follows:
SUMMARY
1. This case involves an ongoing fraudulent scheme in which defendants Joseph
Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC (“875 Holdings”), 127 Holdings, LLC (“127
Holdings”),  Advance Entertainment,  LLC (“Advance Entertainment”), and Advance
Entertainment II, LLC (“Advancement Entertainment II”) (collectively, the “Defendants”)
raised, and are continuing to raise, approximately $81 million from at least 125 investors located
in 13 states, for purported investment in ticket reselling enterprises involving high profile events

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including the Broadway musical Hamilton.  The Defendants diverted at least $51 million of the
incoming investor funds to perpetuate a Ponzi scheme and to enrich themselves.
2. From at least 2015 to the present, Meli and Harriton have represented to investors
and prospective investors that they would pool investor funds to purchase large blocks of tickets
for major concerts and musicals.  Meli and Harriton further represented that the tickets then
would be resold at a profit to produce high returns for the investors.  Investors received written
contracts which promised full repayment of principal plus a 10% annualized profit, to be paid in
less than one year from investment.  In addition, investors were promised 50% of any profits
from the ticket resales that remained after investors received their return of principal and 10%
return.
3. Contrary to the representations by Meli and Harriton, only a small portion of
investor funds was used to make payments to entities with any apparent connection to the ticket
reselling business.  Instead, at least $48 million of incoming funds from apparent investors was
used to repay and provide purported investment returns to other investors, thereby perpetuating
the illusion of a profitable, ongoing investment.  This enabled Meli and Harriton to raise even
more money from investors and to fraudulently use investor money for personal benefit.
4. From in or about January 2015 through October 2016, apparent investor funds
totaling approximately $1.2 million were transferred to Harriton directly for his personal use.
Apparent investor funds also have been transferred to 875 Holdings, 127 Holdings, Advance
Entertainment, and Advance Entertainment II, all of which are entities Meli or Harriton control.
Investor funds transferred to the entities controlled by Meli or Harriton have been used to make
payments for what appear to be personal expenses, including jewelry purchases, private school
tuition payments, and payments to casinos.  Funds also have been transferred from one or more

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of the Defendants to Jessica Ingber Meli, the spouse of Joseph Meli, and to 127 Partners, LLC
(“127 Partners”), an entity controlled by Meli, ( collectively, the “Relief Defendants”), who have
no legitimate interest in, or right to, the funds they received and which represent proceeds of the
fraudulent scheme.
5. As a result of the conduct alleged herein, the Defendants violated, and unless
restrained and enjoined will continue to violate, Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933
(“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)], and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 340.10b-5].
6. The Commission seeks emergency preliminary relief, including a temporary
restraining order against further violations of the federal securities laws and an emergency asset
freeze to preserve assets necessary to satisfy any eventual judgment against the Defendants.  The
Commission also requests an immediate accounting, expedited discovery, a repatriation order, an
order prohibiting the Defendants from continuing to accept or deposit additional investor funds,
and an order prohibiting the alteration or destruction of relevant documents.
7. The Commission also seeks a permanent injunction against the Defendants,
enjoining them from engaging in the transactions, acts, practices, and courses of business alleged
in this Complaint, disgorgement of all ill-gotten gains from the unlawful conduct set forth in this
Complaint, together with prejudgment interest, civil penalties pursuant to Section 20(d) of the
Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C.
§ 78u(d)(3)], and such other relief as the Court may deem appropriate.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
8. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Section 22(a) of the
Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77v(a)] and Sections 21(d), 21(e), and 27 of the Exchange Act [15

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U.S.C. §§ 78u(d), 78u(e), and 78aa].
9. Venue lies in this district pursuant to Section 22(a) of the Securities Act [15
U.S.C. § 77v(a)] and Section 27 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa].  Certain of the acts,
practices, transactions and courses of business alleged in this Complaint, including
communications with investors and prospective investors, occurred within the Southern District
of New York, and were effected, directly or indirectly, by making use of means or
instrumentalities of transportation or communication in interstate commerce, or the mails.  In
addition, Meli and Harriton reside in the district.
DEFENDANTS
10. Joseph Meli, age 42, lives in New York, New York.  He and Harriton are the
direct or indirect owners of Advance Entertainment II.  Meli owns 100% of Advance
Entertainment which, in turn, owns an 80% interest in Advance Entertainment II.  Meli also
controls 127 Holdings and 127 Partners.  Meli, with Harriton, manages 875 Holdings, which
Harriton controls.
11. Matthew Harriton, age 52, lives in New York, New York.  He and Meli are the
direct or indirect owners of Advance Entertainment II, and Harriton, with Meli, manages 875
Holdings.  Harriton owns an 80% interest (through two intermediary LLCs) in 875 Holdings.  He
directly owns a 20% interest in Advance Entertainment II.
12. 875 Holdings, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company organized in 2015
with a principal place of business in Stamford, Connecticut.  Meli and Harriton together manage
875 Holdings, which Harriton controls.  An 875 Holdings bank account received investor funds
and was used to make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme.
13. 127 Holdings, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company controlled by Meli

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and organized in 2009 with a principal place of business at what appears to be Meli’s residence
in New York, New York.  A 127 Holdings bank account received investor funds and was used to
make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme.
14. Advance Entertainment, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company controlled
by Meli and organized in 2011 with a principal place of business in New York, New York at
what appears to be Meli’s residence.  Advance Entertainment bank accounts received investor
funds and were used to make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme.
15. Advance Entertainment II, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company
organized in 2016 with a principal place of business in New Canaan, Connecticut.  Harriton
manages Advance Entertainment II, and Meli and Harriton directly or indirectly own Advance
Entertainment II.  Advance Entertainment II bank accounts received investor funds and were
used to make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme.
RELIEF DEFENDANTS
16. Jessica Ingber Meli is the spouse of and lives at the same address as Joseph Meli
in New York, New York.  During the period from January 2015 through October 2016, she
received at least $136,000 of investor funds through transfers from 127 Holdings.
17. 127 Partners,  LLC is a Delaware limited liability company controlled by Meli and
organized in 2009 with a principal place of business at what appears to be Meli’s residence in
New York, New York.  During the period from January 2015 through October 2016,  a 127
Partners, LLC bank account received approximately $229,000 of investor funds from the ticket
investment scheme through payments from 127 Holdings.

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FACTS
18. From in or about January 2015 through October 2016, Meli and Harriton offered
and sold a total of approximately $81 million of interests in four different entities (Advance
Entertainment, Advance Entertainment II, 875 Holdings and 127 Holdings (the “Four Entities”),
all of which purportedly engaged in ticket resales.  Investors frequently invested in more than
one entity at various times and may not have clearly distinguished among the entities, which
made similar representations about their businesses.
875 Holdings
19. 875 Holdings was organized in or about July 2015.  The next month they filed a
Form D w ith the SEC stating that the company was making a private offering of equities in an
unspecified business with no revenue, and had sold $1,050,000 to date.  In February 2016, 875
Holdings filed an amended Form D stating that 25 persons had invested in the offering, with a
total amount sold of $3.4 million.  In soliciting the investments, Meli and Harriton made
representations that investor money would be pooled and used to buy a participation interest in
profits from resale of tickets for high profile events.
20. From in or about July 2015 through October 2016, 875 Holdings received a total
of approximately $7.1 million from apparent investors and deposited that amount in the company
bank accounts.  In soliciting the investments, Meli and Harriton made representations that
investor money would be pooled and used to buy a participation interest in profits from resale of
tickets for high profile events.  Investors received a “profit participation purchase agreement”
which included a “participation schedule” stating that within nine months from investment an
investor would receive a 10% “preference percentage.”  Meli and Harriton represented orally that
the preference percentage meant an investor would receive a 10% return on an investment.  The

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agreement also stated that investors would receive a “remainder percentage” of 50%, constituting
50% of any additional profits from the ticket resales.
Advance Entertainment
21.  During 2015, after the formation of 875 Holdings, Meli also sold interests in
Advance Entertainment, which was formed in 2011.  From in or about January 2015 through
October 2016, Advance Entertainment received at least $50 million from apparent investors.  In
December 2015, Meli signed a “Funding Agreement” with an investor.  In that agreement,
Advance Entertainment falsely represented that it had an agreement with the producer of the
Broadway musical Hamilton to purchase 35,000 tickets to the musical and that the investor’s
money would be used to pay part of the cost of obtaining the tickets.  The agreement provided
that within eight months the investor would receive the return of its investment; along with “an
amount sufficient to generate a 10% annualized return” on the investment, and that the investor
would also receive 50% of any further proceeds less Advance Entertainment’s e xpenses incurred
in reselling the tickets.  Those representations were false.  Neither Advance Entertainment nor
any of Meli or Harriton’s other entities had any legitimate agreement with the Hamilton producer
in question to purchase tickets to the musical, and no purchase of 35,000 tickets to the musical
with investor money was made.  Nor did Meli or Harriton have any other legitimate source of
business revenue to produce the promised returns to the investors.
Advance Entertainment II
22. Advanced Entertainment II was organized in or about February 2016. The next
month, Advance Entertainment II filed a Form D with the SEC stating that the company was
making a private offering of equities in an unspecified business with no revenue, and had made
sales totaling $10,220,000 to date.  Advance Entertainment II filed a Form D in August 2016 for

8

another offering of $13,000,000.  From in or about February 2016 through October 2016,
Advance Entertainment II received at least $16.3 million of what appear to be investor funds.  In
soliciting investments for Advance Entertainment II, Meli and Harriton each represented to
investors that money invested with the company would be pooled to buy a participation interest
in profits from resale of tickets to high profile events, including the Broadway musical Hamilton
and an Adele concert.  Investors received a “profit participation purchase agreement” which
confirmed that they were “acquiring a participation interest in a portion of the proceeds derived
by the Company from the re-sale of tickets it intends to acquire for a specific Event.”  The
agreement included a “participation schedule” stating that within nine months from the
investment the investor would receive a 10% “preference percentage,” or return on investment,
and a “remainder percentage” of 50%, meaning 50% of any additional profits from the ticket
resales.
127 Holdings
23. 127 Holdings was organized in or about 2009.  From in or about January 2015
through October 2016, 127 Holdings received at least $7.7 million of what appear to be investor
funds.  According to an individual who invested $500,000 in 127 Holdings in June 2015, and
who later invested additional funds in Advance Entertainment, Meli made substantially the same
representations to the investor concerning 127 Holdings as he made concerning Advance
Entertainment.   In particular, Meli represented that 127 Holdings had an agreement with the
producer of Hamilton to purchase tickets to the musical in bulk, that the investor’s money would
be used to pay part of the cost of obtaining the tickets, and that the investor would receive a
return on his investment.  Those representations were false.  Neither Advance Entertainment nor
any of Meli or Harriton’s other entities had any legitimate agreement with the Hamilton producer

9

in question to purchase tickets to the musical, and no bulk purchase of tickets to the musical with
investor money was made.
Defendants Use Investor Funds to Pay Obligations to Prior Investors

24. From January 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016, Meli and Harriton caused the
Four Entities they used for their investor solicitations to receive funds totaling approximately
$81 million from apparent investors.  Meli and Harriton caused the Four Entities to spend only
about 10% of that amount (approximately $9 million) to make payments to third party entities
that appear to be connected with ticket selling businesses.
25. The largest category of payments the Four Entities made were to individuals who
appear to have made earlier investments in the companies, providing purported returns on the
investments made by those individuals.  From January 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016, the
Four Entities paid out over $48 million to investors but appeared to receive essentially no income
attributable to any business activity (including ticket resales).
26. Defendants did not pool the $81 million received from apparent investors to buy a
participation interest in profits from resale of tickets to high profile events.  Instead, Defendants
operated a Ponzi scheme, making payments to prior investors from new investor funds.
Defendants did not tell investors that, contrary to their representations and contrary to the terms
of the written investor participation agreements signed by Meli and Harriton, a significant
portion of the invested funds would be used for purposes other than purchasing tickets for resale.
27. Between January and August of 2016, Investor A invested $1,850,000 with Meli
and Harriton; specifically, he made separate investments in 875 Holdings, Advance
Entertainment and Advance Entertainment II.  Investor A first met Meli and Harriton in either
December of 2015, or January of 2016.  Investor A met both Meli and Harriton in person, and

10

also spoke with each of them on the phone.  Investor A learned from Meli and Harriton that they
were in the business of purchasing tickets in bulk and then reselling them on the secondary
market.  Meli and Harriton represented to Investor A that his money would be pooled with other
investors’ funds, and used solely for the purchases of tickets associated with events or shows.
28. Between January and August of 2016, Investor A invested $1,850,000 with Meli
and Harriton in four tranches.  First, on or about January 11, 2016, Investor A invested $500,000
into 875 Holdings.  Meli and Harriton told Investor A that 875 Holdings was a diversified fund
whose purpose was to purchase tickets for various shows, and that 875 Holdings would have
discretion as to which shows or events to purchase tickets for.  Next, in January and February
2016, Investor A invested a total of $350,000 into Advance Entertainment to be used for an
investment into a ticket purchase for the Broadway musical Hamilton.  Third, on or about March
3, 2016, Investor A invested $700,000 into Advance Entertainment II.  His understanding based
on communications with Meli and Harriton was that $200,000 of that investment would be used
to fund further purchases of Hamilton tickets, and that $500,000 of that investment would be
used to fund tickets to an Adele concert or concerts.  Finally, on or about August 23, 2016,
Investor A invested an additional $300,000 into Advance Entertainment II relating to tickets for
a third event, referred to by Meli and Harriton as the “Desert Trip.”
29. At or around the times of each of his investments, Investor A signed investment
contracts with the entities into which he was investing his funds.
30. Investor A’s funds were deposited into several different bank accounts controlled
by one or more of the Defendants and then spent or transferred contrary to the representations
made to him by Meli and Harriton, and not consistent with the purported investment into event
ticket purchases and resales.  Payments and transfers included:

11

a. Investor A’s January 11, 2016  investment of $500,000 into 875 Holdings was
used, in whole or in part, to fund a payment to another investor, rather than for
ticket purchases and  resales.  The $500,000 was first deposited into an 875
Holding account at Signature Bank ending in ‘1199  on 1/11/16.  All, or at least a
significant portion of this investment, along with other available account funds
totaling $650,000, was transferred to an Advance Entertainment Merrill Lynch
account ending in ‘3098 on 1/12/16.  On 1/14/16, Advance Entertainment used
$1.2 million from the Merrill Lynch ‘3098 account to pay another investor.  This
payment was funded in part by the transfer from 875 Holdings, including the
Investor A funds.
b. Investor A’s $250,000 investment into Advance Entertainment was deposited into
an Advance Entertainment Merrill Lynch ‘3098 account on 1/22/16. All, or at
least a significant portion of this investment, along with other available account
funds totaling $600,000, was used to pay another investor out of the Merrill
Lynch account on 1/26/16.
31.   On or about December 16, 2015, Investor B signed a funding agreement to
invest $1.25 million into Advance Entertainment to fund a portion of a $7 million dollar pooled
investment to purchase and resell event tickets, purportedly related to the Broadway musical
Hamilton.  The funding agreement referenced an underlying letter agreement dated in October
2015 between Advance Entertainment and the Hamilton producer for the purchase of 35,000
tickets.  In reality, neither Advance Entertainment nor any of Meli or Harriton’s other entities
had any legitimate agreement with the Hamilton producer in question to purchase tickets to the
musical, and no purchase of 35,000 tickets to the musical was made with investor money.

12

Advance Entertainment received Investor B’s $1.25 million on December 28, 2015, deposited in
its Merrill Lynch ‘3098 account.  After depositing the $1.25 million of investor funds, the daily
balance of the ‘3098 account was approximately $1.94 million.  The following day, Advance
Entertainment disbursed $1.5 million from this account to a third party who does not appear to
be involved in ticket purchases, for Hamilton or any other event.
32. Between in or around June and October 2015, another individual and his affiliated
business (collectively, “Investor C”) invested $6 million into Advance Entertainment and 127
Holdings.  Similar to Investor B, all or a significant portion of Investor C’s funds were invested
for the Hamilton tickets based on false representations from Meli, claiming that Advance
Entertainment had an agreement with the producer of Hamilton to purchase $7 million worth of
tickets for resale.
33. Meli and Harriton continue to operate the scheme and solicit new investments
while purporting to provide returns to previous investors.  In December 2016, Meli stated that he
has been running a “shell game” involving using certain investors’ funds to pay back other
investors.   Meli also stated in December 2016 that an Advance Entertainment bank account
might as well be his personal bank account.
34. Bank statements for November and December 2016 for an account in the name of
Advance Entertainment reflect receipt of $4 million from apparent investors; and payments of
over $5 million to previous investors.
35. On or about January 19, 2017, Investor A received a wire transfer of $166,666 as
purported return on earlier investments.  The funds for this transfer appear to have come from
deposits during November and December 2016 by other investors.

13

Defendants Use Investor Funds for Other Undisclosed Purposes
36. In addition to using new investor funds to make payments owed to existing
investors, Meli and Harriton have spent almost $2 million of investor funds to buy jewelry and
make other retail purchases, to pay private school and camp tuitions, and to make payments to
casinos.
Relief Defendants
37. Between January 2015 and October 2016, relief defendant Jessica Ingber Meli
received payments totaling approximately $136,800 from 127 Holdings.  There is no indication
that Jessica Ingber Meli provided services in exchange for these payments, and the payments to
her were not disclosed to investors.  Jessica Ingber Meli had no legitimate interest in, or right to,
the funds she received and which funds represented proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.
38. Between January 2015 and October 2016, relief defendant 127 Partners received
payments totaling approximately $229,000 from 127 Holdings.  There is no indication that 127
Partners provided services in exchange for these payments, and the payments to it were not
disclosed to investors.  127 Partners had no legitimate interest in, or right to, the funds it received
and which funds represented proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
FRAUD IN THE OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES
(Violations of Section 17(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Securities Act)

39. Paragraphs 1 through 38 are re-alleged and incorporated by reference.
40. By reason of the conduct described above, defendants Joseph Meli, Matthew
Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance
Entertainment II, LLC, in connection with the offer or sale of securities, by the use of the means
or instrumentalities of interstate commerce or of the mails, directly or indirectly, acting with the

14

requisite degree of knowledge or state of mind (i) employed devices, schemes, or artifices to
defraud; (ii) obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) engaged in transactions,
practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any
persons, including purchasers or sellers of the securities.
41. By reason of the conduct described above, Defendants violated Securities Act
Section 17(a) [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)].
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF SECURITIES
(Violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5(a), (b) and (c)
thereunder)

42. Paragraphs 1 through 38 are re-alleged and incorporated by reference.
43. By reason of the conduct described above, defendants Joseph Meli, Matthew
Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance
Entertainment II, LLC, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of
securities, by the use of the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce or of the mails, or
of any facility of any national securities exchange, intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, (i)
employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud; (ii) made untrue statements of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) engaged in acts,
practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any
persons, including purchasers or sellers of the securities.
44. By reason of the conduct described above, Defendants violated Exchange Act
Section 10(b) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5] thereunder.

15

PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that this Court:
 A. Temporarily, preliminarily, and permanently restrain and enjoin Joseph Meli,
Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance Entertainment, LLC, and
Advance Entertainment II, LLC, their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and
those persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of the
injunction by personal service or otherwise, and each of them, from violating Section 17(a) of
the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)], Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. 78j(b)],
and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5];
 B. Enter a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, order freezing assets,
order requiring an accounting of assets and liabilities, order requiring repatriation of assets, order
prohibiting the accepting or depositing of additional investor funds, order allowing expedited
discovery, order prohibiting the alteration or destruction of relevant documents, and order for
other equitable relief in the form submitted with the Commission’s motion for such relief, as to
Joseph Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance
Entertainment, LLC, and Advance Entertainment II, LLC;
 C. Order Joseph Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC,
Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance Entertainment II, LLC,  to disgorge, with
prejudgment interest, all ill-gotten gains obtained by reason of the unlawful conduct alleged in
this Complaint;

16

 D. Order Relief Defendant Jessica Ingber Meli to disgorge, with prejudgment
interest, all ill-gotten gains obtained by her from any of the Defendants including, but not limited
to, payments to her totaling approximately $136,800 from 127 Holdings;
 E. Order Relief Defendant 127 Partners, LLC to disgorge, with prejudgment interest,
all ill-gotten gains obtained by it from any of the Defendants including, but not limited to,
payments to it totaling approximately $229,000 from 127 Holdings;
 F. Order Joseph Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC,
Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance Entertainment II, LLC,  to pay civil monetary
penalties pursuant to Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section
21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)];
 G. Retain jurisdiction over this action to implement and carry out the terms of all
orders and decrees that may be entered; and,
 H. Grant such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.
JURY DEMAND
The Commission hereby demands a trial by jury on all claims so triable.
Dated:  January 27, 2017   On behalf of the Commission,
 Boston, MA

                                                      //s// Alicia M. Reed________
Alicia M. Reed (NY Bar # 4913596)
Dahlia Rin* (MA Bar # 674137)
Rebecca Israel* (NY Bar # 4783304)
Martin F. Healey* (MA Bar # 227550)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Boston Regional Office
33 Arch Street, 24
th
 Floor

17

Boston, MA  02110
(617) 573-8807 (Rin)
[email protected]

*Not admitted in the S.D.N.Y.
OCR text (30,898c · tika · 95% conf)
1 
 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 

 
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 
COMMISSION, 

  Plaintiff, 
 

 v. 
 

JOSEPH MELI, 
MATTHEW HARRITON, 
875 HOLDINGS, LLC, 
127 HOLDINGS, LLC, 
ADVANCE ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, and  
ADVANCE ENTERTAINMENT II, LLC, 
   
                                             Defendants, 
 
JESSICA INGBER MELI, and 
127 PARTNERS, LLC, 
 
                                             Relief Defendants. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
     CIVIL ACTION NO. 
 
 
 
 
     JURY TRIAL DEMANDED 

 
COMPLAINT 

 Plaintiff, Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”), alleges as 

follows: 

SUMMARY 

1. This case involves an ongoing fraudulent scheme in which defendants Joseph 

Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC (“875 Holdings”), 127 Holdings, LLC (“127 

Holdings”), Advance Entertainment, LLC (“Advance Entertainment”), and Advance 

Entertainment II, LLC (“Advancement Entertainment II”) (collectively, the “Defendants”)  

raised, and are continuing to raise, approximately $81 million from at least 125 investors located 

in 13 states, for purported investment in ticket reselling enterprises involving high profile events 

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including the Broadway musical Hamilton.  The Defendants diverted at least $51 million of the 

incoming investor funds to perpetuate a Ponzi scheme and to enrich themselves. 

2. From at least 2015 to the present, Meli and Harriton have represented to investors 

and prospective investors that they would pool investor funds to purchase large blocks of tickets 

for major concerts and musicals.  Meli and Harriton further represented that the tickets then 

would be resold at a profit to produce high returns for the investors.  Investors received written 

contracts which promised full repayment of principal plus a 10% annualized profit, to be paid in 

less than one year from investment.  In addition, investors were promised 50% of any profits 

from the ticket resales that remained after investors received their return of principal and 10% 

return.   

3. Contrary to the representations by Meli and Harriton, only a small portion of 

investor funds was used to make payments to entities with any apparent connection to the ticket 

reselling business.  Instead, at least $48 million of incoming funds from apparent investors was 

used to repay and provide purported investment returns to other investors, thereby perpetuating 

the illusion of a profitable, ongoing investment.  This enabled Meli and Harriton to raise even 

more money from investors and to fraudulently use investor money for personal benefit.  

4. From in or about January 2015 through October 2016, apparent investor funds 

totaling approximately $1.2 million were transferred to Harriton directly for his personal use.  

Apparent investor funds also have been transferred to 875 Holdings, 127 Holdings, Advance 

Entertainment, and Advance Entertainment II, all of which are entities Meli or Harriton control.  

Investor funds transferred to the entities controlled by Meli or Harriton have been used to make 

payments for what appear to be personal expenses, including jewelry purchases, private school 

tuition payments, and payments to casinos.  Funds also have been transferred from one or more 

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of the Defendants to Jessica Ingber Meli, the spouse of Joseph Meli, and to 127 Partners, LLC 

(“127 Partners”), an entity controlled by Meli, (collectively, the “Relief Defendants”), who have 

no legitimate interest in, or right to, the funds they received and which represent proceeds of the 

fraudulent scheme.  

5. As a result of the conduct alleged herein, the Defendants violated, and unless 

restrained and enjoined will continue to violate, Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 

(“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)], and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 

1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 340.10b-5].   

6. The Commission seeks emergency preliminary relief, including a temporary 

restraining order against further violations of the federal securities laws and an emergency asset 

freeze to preserve assets necessary to satisfy any eventual judgment against the Defendants.  The 

Commission also requests an immediate accounting, expedited discovery, a repatriation order, an 

order prohibiting the Defendants from continuing to accept or deposit additional investor funds, 

and an order prohibiting the alteration or destruction of relevant documents.   

7. The Commission also seeks a permanent injunction against the Defendants, 

enjoining them from engaging in the transactions, acts, practices, and courses of business alleged 

in this Complaint, disgorgement of all ill-gotten gains from the unlawful conduct set forth in this 

Complaint, together with prejudgment interest, civil penalties pursuant to Section 20(d) of the 

Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. 

§ 78u(d)(3)], and such other relief as the Court may deem appropriate. 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE 

8. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Section 22(a) of the 

Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77v(a)] and Sections 21(d), 21(e), and 27 of the Exchange Act [15 

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4 
 

U.S.C. §§ 78u(d), 78u(e), and 78aa]. 

9. Venue lies in this district pursuant to Section 22(a) of the Securities Act [15 

U.S.C. § 77v(a)] and Section 27 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa].  Certain of the acts, 

practices, transactions and courses of business alleged in this Complaint, including 

communications with investors and prospective investors, occurred within the Southern District 

of New York, and were effected, directly or indirectly, by making use of means or 

instrumentalities of transportation or communication in interstate commerce, or the mails.  In 

addition, Meli and Harriton reside in the district. 

DEFENDANTS 

10. Joseph Meli, age 42, lives in New York, New York.  He and Harriton are the 

direct or indirect owners of Advance Entertainment II.  Meli owns 100% of Advance 

Entertainment which, in turn, owns an 80% interest in Advance Entertainment II.  Meli also 

controls 127 Holdings and 127 Partners.  Meli, with Harriton, manages 875 Holdings, which 

Harriton controls.   

11. Matthew Harriton, age 52, lives in New York, New York.  He and Meli are the 

direct or indirect owners of Advance Entertainment II, and Harriton, with Meli, manages 875 

Holdings.  Harriton owns an 80% interest (through two intermediary LLCs) in 875 Holdings.  He 

directly owns a 20% interest in Advance Entertainment II.   

12. 875 Holdings, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company organized in 2015 

with a principal place of business in Stamford, Connecticut.  Meli and Harriton together manage 

875 Holdings, which Harriton controls.  An 875 Holdings bank account received investor funds 

and was used to make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme. 

13. 127 Holdings, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company controlled by Meli 

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and organized in 2009 with a principal place of business at what appears to be Meli’s residence 

in New York, New York.  A 127 Holdings bank account received investor funds and was used to 

make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme.  

14. Advance Entertainment, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company controlled 

by Meli and organized in 2011 with a principal place of business in New York, New York at 

what appears to be Meli’s residence.  Advance Entertainment bank accounts received investor 

funds and were used to make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme. 

15. Advance Entertainment II, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company 

organized in 2016 with a principal place of business in New Canaan, Connecticut.  Harriton 

manages Advance Entertainment II, and Meli and Harriton directly or indirectly own Advance 

Entertainment II.  Advance Entertainment II bank accounts received investor funds and were 

used to make payments as part of the ticket investment scheme. 

RELIEF DEFENDANTS 

16. Jessica Ingber Meli is the spouse of and lives at the same address as Joseph Meli 

in New York, New York.  During the period from January 2015 through October 2016, she 

received at least $136,000 of investor funds through transfers from 127 Holdings. 

17. 127 Partners, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company controlled by Meli and 

organized in 2009 with a principal place of business at what appears to be Meli’s residence in 

New York, New York.  During the period from January 2015 through October 2016,  a 127 

Partners, LLC bank account received approximately $229,000 of investor funds from the ticket 

investment scheme through payments from 127 Holdings.    

 

 

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FACTS 

18. From in or about January 2015 through October 2016, Meli and Harriton offered 

and sold a total of approximately $81 million of interests in four different entities (Advance 

Entertainment, Advance Entertainment II, 875 Holdings and 127 Holdings (the “Four Entities”), 

all of which purportedly engaged in ticket resales.  Investors frequently invested in more than 

one entity at various times and may not have clearly distinguished among the entities, which 

made similar representations about their businesses.  

875 Holdings 

19. 875 Holdings was organized in or about July 2015.  The next month they filed a 

Form D with the SEC stating that the company was making a private offering of equities in an 

unspecified business with no revenue, and had sold $1,050,000 to date.  In February 2016, 875 

Holdings filed an amended Form D stating that 25 persons had invested in the offering, with a 

total amount sold of $3.4 million.  In soliciting the investments, Meli and Harriton made 

representations that investor money would be pooled and used to buy a participation interest in 

profits from resale of tickets for high profile events.      

20. From in or about July 2015 through October 2016, 875 Holdings received a total 

of approximately $7.1 million from apparent investors and deposited that amount in the company 

bank accounts.  In soliciting the investments, Meli and Harriton made representations that 

investor money would be pooled and used to buy a participation interest in profits from resale of 

tickets for high profile events.  Investors received a “profit participation purchase agreement” 

which included a “participation schedule” stating that within nine months from investment an 

investor would receive a 10% “preference percentage.”  Meli and Harriton represented orally that 

the preference percentage meant an investor would receive a 10% return on an investment.  The 

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agreement also stated that investors would receive a “remainder percentage” of 50%, constituting 

50% of any additional profits from the ticket resales.  

Advance Entertainment 

21.  During 2015, after the formation of 875 Holdings, Meli also sold interests in 

Advance Entertainment, which was formed in 2011.  From in or about January 2015 through 

October 2016, Advance Entertainment received at least $50 million from apparent investors.  In 

December 2015, Meli signed a “Funding Agreement” with an investor.  In that agreement, 

Advance Entertainment falsely represented that it had an agreement with the producer of the 

Broadway musical Hamilton to purchase 35,000 tickets to the musical and that the investor’s 

money would be used to pay part of the cost of obtaining the tickets.  The agreement provided 

that within eight months the investor would receive the return of its investment; along with “an 

amount sufficient to generate a 10% annualized return” on the investment, and that the investor 

would also receive 50% of any further proceeds less Advance Entertainment’s expenses incurred 

in reselling the tickets.  Those representations were false.  Neither Advance Entertainment nor 

any of Meli or Harriton’s other entities had any legitimate agreement with the Hamilton producer 

in question to purchase tickets to the musical, and no purchase of 35,000 tickets to the musical 

with investor money was made.  Nor did Meli or Harriton have any other legitimate source of 

business revenue to produce the promised returns to the investors.    

Advance Entertainment II   

22. Advanced Entertainment II was organized in or about February 2016. The next 

month, Advance Entertainment II filed a Form D with the SEC stating that the company was 

making a private offering of equities in an unspecified business with no revenue, and had made 

sales totaling $10,220,000 to date.  Advance Entertainment II filed a Form D in August 2016 for 

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another offering of $13,000,000.  From in or about February 2016 through October 2016, 

Advance Entertainment II received at least $16.3 million of what appear to be investor funds.  In 

soliciting investments for Advance Entertainment II, Meli and Harriton each represented to 

investors that money invested with the company would be pooled to buy a participation interest 

in profits from resale of tickets to high profile events, including the Broadway musical Hamilton 

and an Adele concert.  Investors received a “profit participation purchase agreement” which 

confirmed that they were “acquiring a participation interest in a portion of the proceeds derived 

by the Company from the re-sale of tickets it intends to acquire for a specific Event.”  The 

agreement included a “participation schedule” stating that within nine months from the 

investment the investor would receive a 10% “preference percentage,” or return on investment, 

and a “remainder percentage” of 50%, meaning 50% of any additional profits from the ticket 

resales. 

127 Holdings 

23. 127 Holdings was organized in or about 2009.  From in or about January 2015 

through October 2016, 127 Holdings received at least $7.7 million of what appear to be investor 

funds.  According to an individual who invested $500,000 in 127 Holdings in June 2015, and 

who later invested additional funds in Advance Entertainment, Meli made substantially the same 

representations to the investor concerning 127 Holdings as he made concerning Advance 

Entertainment.  In particular, Meli represented that 127 Holdings had an agreement with the 

producer of Hamilton to purchase tickets to the musical in bulk, that the investor’s money would 

be used to pay part of the cost of obtaining the tickets, and that the investor would receive a 

return on his investment.  Those representations were false.  Neither Advance Entertainment nor 

any of Meli or Harriton’s other entities had any legitimate agreement with the Hamilton producer 

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in question to purchase tickets to the musical, and no bulk purchase of tickets to the musical with 

investor money was made. 

Defendants Use Investor Funds to Pay Obligations to Prior Investors 
 
24. From January 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016, Meli and Harriton caused the 

Four Entities they used for their investor solicitations to receive funds totaling approximately 

$81 million from apparent investors.  Meli and Harriton caused the Four Entities to spend only 

about 10% of that amount (approximately $9 million) to make payments to third party entities 

that appear to be connected with ticket selling businesses.   

25. The largest category of payments the Four Entities made were to individuals who 

appear to have made earlier investments in the companies, providing purported returns on the 

investments made by those individuals.  From January 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016, the 

Four Entities paid out over $48 million to investors but appeared to receive essentially no income 

attributable to any business activity (including ticket resales).   

26. Defendants did not pool the $81 million received from apparent investors to buy a 

participation interest in profits from resale of tickets to high profile events.  Instead, Defendants 

operated a Ponzi scheme, making payments to prior investors from new investor funds.  

Defendants did not tell investors that, contrary to their representations and contrary to the terms 

of the written investor participation agreements signed by Meli and Harriton, a significant 

portion of the invested funds would be used for purposes other than purchasing tickets for resale.   

27. Between January and August of 2016, Investor A invested $1,850,000 with Meli 

and Harriton; specifically, he made separate investments in 875 Holdings, Advance 

Entertainment and Advance Entertainment II.  Investor A first met Meli and Harriton in either 

December of 2015, or January of 2016.  Investor A met both Meli and Harriton in person, and 

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also spoke with each of them on the phone.  Investor A learned from Meli and Harriton that they 

were in the business of purchasing tickets in bulk and then reselling them on the secondary 

market.  Meli and Harriton represented to Investor A that his money would be pooled with other 

investors’ funds, and used solely for the purchases of tickets associated with events or shows. 

28. Between January and August of 2016, Investor A invested $1,850,000 with Meli 

and Harriton in four tranches.  First, on or about January 11, 2016, Investor A invested $500,000 

into 875 Holdings.  Meli and Harriton told Investor A that 875 Holdings was a diversified fund 

whose purpose was to purchase tickets for various shows, and that 875 Holdings would have 

discretion as to which shows or events to purchase tickets for.  Next, in January and February 

2016, Investor A invested a total of $350,000 into Advance Entertainment to be used for an 

investment into a ticket purchase for the Broadway musical Hamilton.  Third, on or about March 

3, 2016, Investor A invested $700,000 into Advance Entertainment II.  His understanding based 

on communications with Meli and Harriton was that $200,000 of that investment would be used 

to fund further purchases of Hamilton tickets, and that $500,000 of that investment would be 

used to fund tickets to an Adele concert or concerts.  Finally, on or about August 23, 2016, 

Investor A invested an additional $300,000 into Advance Entertainment II relating to tickets for 

a third event, referred to by Meli and Harriton as the “Desert Trip.”  

29. At or around the times of each of his investments, Investor A signed investment 

contracts with the entities into which he was investing his funds. 

30. Investor A’s funds were deposited into several different bank accounts controlled 

by one or more of the Defendants and then spent or transferred contrary to the representations 

made to him by Meli and Harriton, and not consistent with the purported investment into event 

ticket purchases and resales.  Payments and transfers included: 

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a. Investor A’s January 11, 2016  investment of $500,000 into 875 Holdings was 

used, in whole or in part, to fund a payment to another investor, rather than for 

ticket purchases and  resales.  The $500,000 was first deposited into an 875 

Holding account at Signature Bank ending in ‘1199  on 1/11/16.  All, or at least a 

significant portion of this investment, along with other available account funds 

totaling $650,000, was transferred to an Advance Entertainment Merrill Lynch 

account ending in ‘3098 on 1/12/16.  On 1/14/16, Advance Entertainment used 

$1.2 million from the Merrill Lynch ‘3098 account to pay another investor.  This 

payment was funded in part by the transfer from 875 Holdings, including the 

Investor A funds. 

b. Investor A’s $250,000 investment into Advance Entertainment was deposited into 

an Advance Entertainment Merrill Lynch ‘3098 account on 1/22/16. All, or at 

least a significant portion of this investment, along with other available account 

funds totaling $600,000, was used to pay another investor out of the Merrill 

Lynch account on 1/26/16. 

31.   On or about December 16, 2015, Investor B signed a funding agreement to 

invest $1.25 million into Advance Entertainment to fund a portion of a $7 million dollar pooled 

investment to purchase and resell event tickets, purportedly related to the Broadway musical 

Hamilton.  The funding agreement referenced an underlying letter agreement dated in October 

2015 between Advance Entertainment and the Hamilton producer for the purchase of 35,000 

tickets.  In reality, neither Advance Entertainment nor any of Meli or Harriton’s other entities 

had any legitimate agreement with the Hamilton producer in question to purchase tickets to the 

musical, and no purchase of 35,000 tickets to the musical was made with investor money.  

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Advance Entertainment received Investor B’s $1.25 million on December 28, 2015, deposited in 

its Merrill Lynch ‘3098 account.  After depositing the $1.25 million of investor funds, the daily 

balance of the ‘3098 account was approximately $1.94 million.  The following day, Advance 

Entertainment disbursed $1.5 million from this account to a third party who does not appear to 

be involved in ticket purchases, for Hamilton or any other event. 

32. Between in or around June and October 2015, another individual and his affiliated 

business (collectively, “Investor C”) invested $6 million into Advance Entertainment and 127 

Holdings.  Similar to Investor B, all or a significant portion of Investor C’s funds were invested 

for the Hamilton tickets based on false representations from Meli, claiming that Advance 

Entertainment had an agreement with the producer of Hamilton to purchase $7 million worth of 

tickets for resale. 

33. Meli and Harriton continue to operate the scheme and solicit new investments 

while purporting to provide returns to previous investors.  In December 2016, Meli stated that he 

has been running a “shell game” involving using certain investors’ funds to pay back other 

investors.   Meli also stated in December 2016 that an Advance Entertainment bank account 

might as well be his personal bank account.  

34. Bank statements for November and December 2016 for an account in the name of 

Advance Entertainment reflect receipt of $4 million from apparent investors; and payments of 

over $5 million to previous investors.   

35. On or about January 19, 2017, Investor A received a wire transfer of $166,666 as 

purported return on earlier investments.  The funds for this transfer appear to have come from 

deposits during November and December 2016 by other investors.   

 

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Defendants Use Investor Funds for Other Undisclosed Purposes 

36. In addition to using new investor funds to make payments owed to existing 

investors, Meli and Harriton have spent almost $2 million of investor funds to buy jewelry and 

make other retail purchases, to pay private school and camp tuitions, and to make payments to 

casinos.   

Relief Defendants 

37. Between January 2015 and October 2016, relief defendant Jessica Ingber Meli 

received payments totaling approximately $136,800 from 127 Holdings.  There is no indication 

that Jessica Ingber Meli provided services in exchange for these payments, and the payments to 

her were not disclosed to investors.  Jessica Ingber Meli had no legitimate interest in, or right to, 

the funds she received and which funds represented proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.   

38. Between January 2015 and October 2016, relief defendant 127 Partners received 

payments totaling approximately $229,000 from 127 Holdings.  There is no indication that 127 

Partners provided services in exchange for these payments, and the payments to it were not 

disclosed to investors.  127 Partners had no legitimate interest in, or right to, the funds it received 

and which funds represented proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.    

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
FRAUD IN THE OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES 

(Violations of Section 17(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Securities Act) 
 

39. Paragraphs 1 through 38 are re-alleged and incorporated by reference. 

40. By reason of the conduct described above, defendants Joseph Meli, Matthew 

Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance 

Entertainment II, LLC, in connection with the offer or sale of securities, by the use of the means 

or instrumentalities of interstate commerce or of the mails, directly or indirectly, acting with the 

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requisite degree of knowledge or state of mind (i) employed devices, schemes, or artifices to 

defraud; (ii) obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material fact or 

omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the 

circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) engaged in transactions, 

practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any 

persons, including purchasers or sellers of the securities.   

41. By reason of the conduct described above, Defendants violated Securities Act 

Section 17(a) [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)]. 

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF SECURITIES  

(Violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5(a), (b) and (c) 
thereunder) 

 
42. Paragraphs 1 through 38 are re-alleged and incorporated by reference. 

43. By reason of the conduct described above, defendants Joseph Meli, Matthew 

Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance 

Entertainment II, LLC, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of 

securities, by the use of the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce or of the mails, or 

of any facility of any national securities exchange, intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, (i) 

employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud; (ii) made untrue statements of a material fact 

or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of 

the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) engaged in acts, 

practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any 

persons, including purchasers or sellers of the securities. 

44. By reason of the conduct described above, Defendants violated Exchange Act 

Section 10(b) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5] thereunder. 

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PRAYER FOR RELIEF 

WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that this Court: 

 A. Temporarily, preliminarily, and permanently restrain and enjoin Joseph Meli, 

Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance Entertainment, LLC, and 

Advance Entertainment II, LLC, their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and 

those persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of the 

injunction by personal service or otherwise, and each of them, from violating Section 17(a) of 

the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)], Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. 78j(b)], 

and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5]; 

 B. Enter a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, order freezing assets, 

order requiring an accounting of assets and liabilities, order requiring repatriation of assets, order 

prohibiting the accepting or depositing of additional investor funds, order allowing expedited 

discovery, order prohibiting the alteration or destruction of relevant documents, and order for 

other equitable relief in the form submitted with the Commission’s motion for such relief, as to 

Joseph Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, Advance 

Entertainment, LLC, and Advance Entertainment II, LLC; 

 C. Order Joseph Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, 

Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance Entertainment II, LLC,  to disgorge, with 

prejudgment interest, all ill-gotten gains obtained by reason of the unlawful conduct alleged in 

this Complaint; 

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 D. Order Relief Defendant Jessica Ingber Meli to disgorge, with prejudgment 

interest, all ill-gotten gains obtained by her from any of the Defendants including, but not limited 

to, payments to her totaling approximately $136,800 from 127 Holdings; 

 E. Order Relief Defendant 127 Partners, LLC to disgorge, with prejudgment interest, 

all ill-gotten gains obtained by it from any of the Defendants including, but not limited to, 

payments to it totaling approximately $229,000 from 127 Holdings; 

 F. Order Joseph Meli, Matthew Harriton, 875 Holdings, LLC, 127 Holdings, LLC, 

Advance Entertainment, LLC, and Advance Entertainment II, LLC,  to pay civil monetary 

penalties pursuant to Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 

21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)];  

 G. Retain jurisdiction over this action to implement and carry out the terms of all 

orders and decrees that may be entered; and, 

 H. Grant such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper. 

JURY DEMAND 

The Commission hereby demands a trial by jury on all claims so triable. 

Dated: January 27, 2017   On behalf of the Commission, 
 Boston, MA 
       

                                                      //s// Alicia M. Reed________ 
Alicia M. Reed (NY Bar # 4913596) 
Dahlia Rin* (MA Bar # 674137) 
Rebecca Israel* (NY Bar # 4783304) 
Martin F. Healey* (MA Bar # 227550) 
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 
Boston Regional Office 
33 Arch Street, 24th Floor 

Case 1:17-cv-00632   Document 1   Filed 01/27/17   Page 16 of 17



17 
 

Boston, MA  02110 
(617) 573-8807 (Rin) 
[email protected] 
 
*Not admitted in the S.D.N.Y. 

 

Case 1:17-cv-00632   Document 1   Filed 01/27/17   Page 17 of 17