STARability Foundation distances itself from couple accused of fraud

Brent Seaman – charged with fraud by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission – and his wife Jana Seaman have until last week been known as Naples investors, philanthropists and socialites. Now, one of the high-profile charities the couple helped – STARability Foundation – is distancing itself from them.

“STARability Foundation does not currently have any association with the Seamans, nor has for some time. This is an active investigation; we have no further comment on the situation,” the foundation said in an emailed statement to the Naples Daily News after a request for an interview.

One of Brent Seaman’s companies – Accanito Capital Group with offices on Fifth Avenue – was the presenting sponsor for STARability’s gala at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples in 2022. For the 2023 gala, held in February also at The Ritz-Carlton, Jana Seaman was co-chair.

The gala raised $3.2 million in 2022 and $2.8 million in 2023, according to the foundation’s website. STARability supports programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Collier County.

Accanito is Italian for unrelenting

Brent Seaman is charged with violating securities laws between June 2019 and September 2022. He has agreed to settle the case without admitting or denying the charges, according to an SEC press release. The SEC charged Brent Seaman and five Accanito entities he manages on July 27 with violating registration laws.

Accanito is an Italian word that means unrelenting. Seaman, the Accanito LLCs, Accanito Capital Group and Surge LLC were charged with violating anti-fraud laws. Seaman also was charged with violating broker-dealer registration laws.

Jana Seaman was named as a relief defendant, along with Valo Holdings Group LLC and Surge Capital Ventures LLC. A relief defendant is a person who is alleged to have received investor proceeds. Jana Seaman and the two companies are alleged to have received millions. Jana Seaman has agreed to pay $757,154; Valo Holdings has agreed to pay $688,240, according to the SEC.

More: Who is Brent Seaman? 5 things to know about Naples man charged in $35 million Ponzi scheme

Jana Seaman was a grief coach before starting a venture capital company

According to its website, Valo Holdings is a venture capital company run by founder and CEO Jana Seaman, who previously had been a life coach specializing in "grief, loss, and rebuilding the life you want after life’s disappointments," according to FifthAvenueSouth.com. Surge Capital Ventures, which appears to be a holding company, lists Brent Seaman as the registered agent, according to an April 22, 2022, annual report field with Florida SunBiz website by the state’s Division of Corporations.

Both Jana and Brent Seaman’s professional websites and personal social media accounts showcase successful, lavish lifestyles – from galas and extravagant vacations to high-end vehicles and private-jet adventures. Brent Seaman is accused of bilking about $35 million from at least 60 investors, mostly “elderly, retired, and connected to a Naples church where Seaman was an active member.” These deals were made by offering unregistered securities to the investors, the complaint said.

The SEC complaint alleges that Brent Seaman promised returns of between 18 and 48 percent, describing the investments as safe and guaranteed, but his currency trading was never profitable, and he lost millions of dollars in investors’ money. He is accused of making payments to initial investors with money raised from new investors – in Ponzi-scheme fashion.

Seaman also is accused of misappropriating funds to himself to pay for his lavish lifestyle. Regulators in Miami conducted the investigation and filed its complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Under the settlement with the SEC that is subject to court approval, Brent Seaman will be barred from serving as an officer or director of any SEC-reporting company. He also agreed to settle follow-on administrative proceedings “based on the anticipated entry of a permanent injunction against him.”

STARability did not respond to questions asking whether the organization is cooperating with authorities – either local or federal.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: STARability distances itself from Brent and Jana Seaman after charges