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SEC v. Palm House Hotel Distribution Fund

Distribution amounts will be calculated based on records obtained by SEC staff during investigation and investor losses

Last verified August 25, 2026Source: jndHow ClaimWatch verifies cases

Closed to new claims. Browse open settlements →

Where this case stands

Payments distributed March 25, 2025

The court approved the settlement and the administrator has reported sending payments to class members who filed valid claims.

Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (No. 18-cv-81038-DMM).

  1. August 3, 2018
    Case filed
  2. December 20, 2019
    Case closed by the court
  3. November 13, 2020
    Final approval hearing

    The court hears any objections and decides whether to approve the settlement.

  4. March 25, 2025
    Payments distributed

What happened

The SEC alleged that from November 2012 to March 2015, defendants defrauded 88 foreign investors participating in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program out of approximately $44 million by misrepresenting that investor funds would be loaned to acquire, develop, and operate the Palm House Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Instead, defendants misappropriated a significant portion of the investor funds.

Do you qualify?

Foreign investors who purchased one or more limited partnership interests in Palm House Hotel LLLP while participating in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program from November 2012 to March 2015 and suffered a loss as a result of the alleged conduct.

What the settlement pays

Distribution amounts will be calculated based on records obtained by SEC staff during investigation and investor losses

Paid from a $6.7M settlement fund. Individual amounts depend on how many valid claims are filed.

How to file

You do not need to submit a claim form. Eligible investors will be identified based on records obtained by SEC staff during the investigation, and distribution payments will be calculated automatically. Contact the Distribution Agent at 1-888-383-0356 or info@PalmHouseHotelFund.com if your contact or payment information has changed.

Common questions

How much does the SEC v. Palm House Hotel Distribution Fund pay?
Estimated payout: Distribution amounts will be calculated based on records obtained by SEC staff during investigation and investor losses. The settlement fund is $6.7M.Why settlement checks are smaller than the headline number →
Do I need proof of purchase for the SEC v. Palm House Hotel Distribution Fund?
No. Claims can be filed without a receipt.
What is the status of the SEC v. Palm House Hotel Distribution Fund?
Payments distributed March 25, 2025. The court approved the settlement and the administrator has reported sending payments to class members who filed valid claims.
Is the SEC v. Palm House Hotel Distribution Fund notice real, or a scam?
JND Legal Administration is the court-appointed administrator. Claims are filed only at palmhousehotelfund.com. Filing is always free, and no administrator asks for payment or a full Social Security number by email or text.How to tell a real settlement notice from a scam →
Who are the attorneys in the SEC v. Palm House Hotel Distribution Fund?
For the plaintiffs: Catherine E. Pappas (United States Securities and Exchange Commission); Jordan Abraham Cortez (US Securities and Exchange Commission); Alejandro Oscar Soto (U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission). For Palm House Hotel LLLP, South Atlantic Regional Center LLC, Joseph J. Walsh Sr., Robert V. Matthews, Royal Palm LLC, and USREDA: Galen J Criscione (Criscione Ravala, LLP); John F. Mariani (KAMMERER & MARIANI, PLLC); Christopher William Kammerer (Rabin Kammerer Johnson, P.A.); 160 Royal Palm, LLC (Registered Agent: Leslie R. Evans). From the public court docket.

Who's involved

Plaintiffs

  • Securities and Exchange Commission

Defendants

  • United States Regional Economic Development Authority LLC
  • 160 Royal Palm, LLC
  • Robert V. Matthews
  • Joseph J. Walsh, Sr.
  • South Atlantic Regional Center, LLC
  • Palm House Hotel, LLLP

Counsel for plaintiffs

Counsel for defendants

From the public court docket, contact details as filed; not an endorsement.

In the news

Headlines via NewsAPI.

Guides:Why is my settlement check so small?How long a settlement takes to pay outIs this settlement notice real, or a scam?

Summarised from public settlement documents; confirm terms on the official settlement website. ClaimWatch is not a law firm, and filing a claim is free.

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