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Welcome

Welcome to the website established by the Court appointed Receiver Kelly Crawford. Mr. Crawford was appointed the Receiver by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Receivership Court”) in a lawsuit brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission against Defendants First State Depository Company, LLC, Argent Asset Group, LLC, and Robert Leroy Higgins, in Case No. 22-1266.  The purpose of this website is to provide information regarding the receivership to persons or entities who did business with the Defendants. 
 

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On November 30, 2023, the Receiver completed the distribution of metals, foreign currency, and other holdings to the claimants or the claimants’ custodian who had holdings at the First State Depository.  The Receiver is working on the liquidation of the Argent inventory and other assets of the Defendant to generate funds for distribution to those who hold an approved claim in the receivership.

Information Regarding the Criminal Charges Against Robert Higgins

One of the most common questions I receive from depositors is whether Robert Higgins is in jail. I serve as the Receiver in a civil case against Mr. Higgins. It is not a criminal case. There are two criminal cases pending against Mr. Higgins in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. In one criminal case, Mr. Higgins faces charges for alleged tax fraud and for alleged fraud perpetrated against a victim who purchased metals from Mr. Higgins through his company Certified Asset Management, Inc. (“CAMI”) and Certified Assets Management International, LLC (“CAM-INT”). Here is a copy of the Second Superseding Indictment in that criminal case. In the other criminal case, Mr. Higgins faces charges of committing perjury, making a false declaration before the Court, and attempted witness intimidation. Here is a copy of the Criminal Complaint against Higgins in that criminal case. Mr. Higgins was arrested for a short time in June, but a magistrate judge released Mr. Higgins to home confinement. The Department of Justice is appealing the Magistrate’s decision.

ACCOUNTANT’S REPORT

The report of the Receiver’s accountants, which includes their audit and physical inventory of the assets at 100 Todds Lane, Wilmington, Delaware is available here.  Depositors, using your FSD account number, please open Exhibit A and find your account number on Exhibit 1 first.  If your account number is not listed on Exhibit 1, then go to Exhibit 2 and locate your account.  Exhibit 3 will then provide you the details of what was located and what was not located for your account.  

About

The Receiver

Kelly Crawford is an attorney in Dallas, Texas.  He has served as the receiver or counsel to the receiver in more than 15 cases brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Federal Trade Commission during the past 20 years.  He has been appointed the receiver by federal courts in each of the four districts of Texas, as well as by the federal court for the Southern District of New York.  He is a founder of the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers.

The Receiver Kelly Crawford may be contacted by telephone at 214-420-4293 or email using the link below. When contacting Mr. Crawford, if he is not available please leave a message and either Mr. Crawford or one of his attorneys will respond to your message.

TIMELINE

 
 
  • 09/27/22

    Statutory Restraining Order (“SRO”) Filed

    United States District Court for the District of Delaware files Statutory Restraining Order

    View Statutory Restraining Order

  • 10/04/22

    Receiver takes possession and control of the principal office of the Defendants and begins inventory and seizure of assets

  • 10/07/22

    Court extends Statutory Restraining Order and postpones preliminary injunction hearing until December 2, 2022

  • 12/02/22

    Doc 57 Order Of Preliminary Injunction, Appointment of Receiver [Kelly Crawford] And For Other Equitable Relief Against Defendant

    View Doc order 57

  • 01/10/23

    Doc 78 The Report of the Receiver's Accounting Firm

    View Report

  • 01/10/23

    APPENDIX to Report on Facility Inventory and Analysis

    View Appendix

  • 04/10/23

    April 1 Deadline for submitting proofs of claim expired

  • 06/09/23

    Receiver searches Higgins home with metal detectors and discovers gold coins in ceiling and foreign currency

  • 06/10/23

    Higgins is arrested at his home and taken into custody

  • 06/20/23

    Court enters Consent Order of Permanent Injunction and Other Statutory Equitable Relief against Defendants First State Depository and Argent*

  • 06/23/23

    Detention hearing for Robert Higgins at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 2A of the Federal Courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware

  • 06/23/23

    Court enters Default Judgment against Defendant Robert Higgins*

  • * Please note that the entry of judgments against the Defendants does not mean the Defendants will pay the amount owed under the judgments or that the amount of money in the judgments will be available for payment to claimants. The Receiver is seeking to recover assets of the Defendants, which are limited, toward payment of the judgments.

  • 06/26/23

    Magistrate releases Robert Higgins from incarceration

  • 07/14/23

    At a contempt hearing, the Court orders Higgins to turn over the 2006 Hummer H2 he purchased in his wife’s name to the Receiver, and the Receiver takes possession of the Hummer

  • 08/15/23

    For any proofs of claim that have not been received by the Receiver as of September 15, 2023, the Receiver will request the Court to order that the holdings of those persons or entities are forfeited to the receivership estate.

  • 11/30/23

    Receiver completes distribution of metals, foreign currency, and other holdings to claimants or their custodians.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions