A federal judge in Miami has closed a five-year-old securities fraud case against Gordon Scott Venters, the chief executive of Fort Lauderdale-based microcap company The Movie Studio, Inc. The final judgment, signed October 15, 2026, orders Venters to pay $186,735 in disgorgement, interest, and penalties for a stock offering that collected at least $1.2 million from roughly 70 investors, many of them elderly.
What happened in the Movie Studio case
The SEC sued Venters and his company in August 2021, alleging he ran a long-running promotional campaign built on claims about films the company did not own. Between August 2016 and March 2021, Venters issued press releases describing ownership, production, distribution, and licensing deals that the regulator says were false or misleading.
At the same time, from April 2017 through December 2020, Venters raised at least $1.2 million from at least 70 investors through unregistered stock sales. The SEC says many of those investors were unsophisticated and elderly, and that Venters acted as an unregistered broker while selling the shares.
Key facts from the final judgment
The case is SEC v. The Movie Studio, Inc., No. 0:21-cv-61686, in the Southern District of Florida before Judge Darrin P. Gayles. The numbers below summarize how the case ended.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida |
| Case number | 0:21-cv-61686, filed August 13, 2021 |
| Final judgment | Signed October 15, 2026 |
| Disgorgement | $69,000 |
| Prejudgment interest | $17,735 |
| Civil penalty | $100,000 |
| Total owed by Venters | $186,735 |
| Investors | At least 70, many elderly |
| Amount raised | At least $1.2 million |
The film library that was not there
According to the SEC’s 2021 complaint, Venters promoted The Movie Studio as a company on the verge of dominating independent film. He claimed the company owned or had access to a library of hundreds, and at times thousands, of feature films. The regulator counted about 17 films the company actually controlled.
The complaint says Venters announced an acquisition of the Arrowhead Film Library that never closed, and formed a subsidiary called Gulfstream Movie Studios to make it appear the company ran its own production studio. Press releases also touted blockchain technology in the company’s distribution plans and promised that films were “coming soon” when only trailer content existed, according to the SEC.
Investor money went to press release campaigns, sales commissions, and Venters’ personal lifestyle, the complaint alleges, including payments to a woman identified as Jane Doe through sham consulting agreements. Venters also dumped shares into the public market after the promotional releases, the SEC said.
Red flags investors should recognize
- Press-release driven hype. When a company’s main product seems to be its own publicity, treat the claims as marketing until primary documents prove otherwise.
- Asset claims without filings. Film libraries, studios, and acquisitions should appear in audited financial statements and formal disclosures, not only in press releases.
- Stock sold directly by an executive. Unregistered stock sold by an unregistered broker is illegal regardless of how promising the story sounds.
- Pressure on elderly investors. Schemes that target retirees with dreams of the next big studio deserve extra scrutiny, not less.
What Movie Studio investors can do now
The judgment ends the SEC’s civil case, but the $186,735 owed by Venters falls far short of the $1.2 million raised. Investors who bought shares in the company or the private offering should review their records and consider their recovery options.
The court record shows the parties resolved the case after a stipulation that divided roughly 70 investors between 48 accredited and 22 non-accredited participants. A 2024 ruling denied the SEC partial summary judgment and pushed the matter toward settlement. The final judgment now closes the docket.
Questions investors are asking about the Venters case
Who is Gordon Scott Venters? He is the chief executive of The Movie Studio, Inc., a Fort Lauderdale microcap film company that traded over the counter, whom the SEC charged in 2021 with fraud and unregistered stock sales.
How much does Venters owe? The final judgment entered October 15, 2026 orders $69,000 in disgorgement, $17,735 in prejudgment interest, and a $100,000 civil penalty, for a total of $186,735.
Can investors recover losses from The Movie Studio offering? The judgment covers only a fraction of the $1.2 million raised, so affected investors may wish to consult a securities attorney about additional claims.
Haselkorn & Thibaut fights for investor recovery
Haselkorn & Thibaut is a securities law firm founded by former Wall Street defense attorneys who shifted their practice to represent investors. The firm has recovered over $520 million for clients in securities matters and maintains a 98 percent success rate in resolved nontraded REIT cases. Attorneys are AV Preeminent rated through Martindale-Hubbell, designated as Super Lawyers, and hold a 5.0-star client review average. The firm operates on a contingency basis — no recovery, no fee.
Contact Haselkorn & Thibaut today
Time matters in investment fraud cases. The earlier you act, the stronger your position. The firm offers a free case evaluation to assess your losses, review your account history, and explain your options under arbitration or settlement.
- Main Phone: 1-888-885-7162
- website for a free consultation
Offices in Florida, New York, Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina. Former Wall Street defense attorneys with 95+ years of combined experience. No recovery, no fee.
AlphaBetaStock is an independent financial news publisher. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or investment advice.
