Mark J. Boucher

On November 6, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instituted administrative proceedings against Mark J. Boucher, a former investment adviser and sole owner of Strategic Wealth Advisor Group Services, Inc., for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate client funds.

According to the SEC’s findings, Boucher misappropriated over $2 million from his advisory clients’ accounts between December 2010 and July 2020. His fraudulent activities included selling client securities without consent, diverting the proceeds to his personal accounts, and forging signatures on checks. Victims of his schemes ranged from individual investors to small business owners who trusted him with their financial futures.

The SEC complaint revealed several egregious cases of misconduct:

• Client A: Boucher stole $669,000 from a widow’s advisory accounts, using the funds for personal expenses such as credit card payments, luxury travel, and car insurance.
• Clients B and C: Boucher sold securities from the accounts of two brothers and used the proceeds to purchase a Camaro, which he later resold to one of the victims without disclosing its fraudulent origins.
• Client D: After the death of a longtime client, Boucher, acting as trustee of her estate, diverted over $1.5 million in trust funds to his personal accounts.

Boucher’s fraudulent actions were not limited to theft; he actively worked to conceal his misconduct by falsifying documents, creating misleading statements, and impersonating clients.

In January 2024, Boucher pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in a parallel criminal case. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $409,497.77. The SEC has permanently barred Boucher from the securities industry and investment advisory roles.

If you or someone you know invested through Mark J. Boucher or Strategic Wealth Advisor Group Services, Inc., during the relevant time, you may have been affected by his misconduct. At ChapmanAlbin, we are dedicated to helping investors recover losses caused by fraud and negligence. Contact us today to explore your options.