Law Firm Announces Recovery Options for Investors Affected by Marat Likhtenstein Arrest

MDF Law reviewing potential claims on behalf of investors who suffered losses from Likhtenstein's alleged Ponzi scheme

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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MDF Law, a securities and investor-protection law firm, announced that it is actively reviewing potential recovery claims on behalf of investors who may have suffered financial losses in connection with the recent arrest and regulatory proceedings involving former financial advisor Marat Likhtenstein. Likhtenstein was accused of raising over $4.1 million through the sale of self-issued promissory notes that were allegedly backed by business ventures and real estate collateral, which turned out to be false representations. He was indicted on charges including grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and violations of New York's General Business Law.

Why it matters

While criminal prosecutions and SEC enforcement actions are designed to address regulatory violations, they do not automatically compensate investors for financial losses. In many cases, recovery may require a separate legal action through FINRA arbitration or civil litigation. This case highlights the importance for investors to seek legal counsel to explore their options for recovering losses from alleged fraudulent investment schemes.

The details

According to the SEC complaint, Likhtenstein raised over $4.1 million by selling self-issued promissory notes that were purportedly backed by business ventures and real estate collateral. However, these representations were allegedly false or misleading. The complaint further alleges that investor funds were diverted to pay earlier investors and for personal expenses, consistent with a Ponzi-style scheme. In a parallel criminal case, Likhtenstein was indicted on charges including grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and violations of New York's General Business Law for obtaining over $1.2 million from at least ten investors through misrepresentations.

  • On February 11, 2026, MDF Law announced it is reviewing potential recovery claims on behalf of investors affected by Marat Likhtenstein's alleged misconduct.

The players

MDF Law

A securities and investor-protection law firm with offices in New York and California that is reviewing potential recovery claims on behalf of investors affected by Marat Likhtenstein's alleged misconduct.

Marat Likhtenstein

A former financial advisor based in Brooklyn, New York, who has been named in multiple civil and criminal actions related to allegations that he raised over $4.1 million through the sale of self-issued promissory notes based on false representations.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The federal agency that filed a civil enforcement action against Marat Likhtenstein alleging he raised over $4.1 million through the sale of self-issued promissory notes with false representations.

Kings County District Attorney's Office

The local prosecutor's office that indicted Marat Likhtenstein on criminal charges including grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and violations of New York's General Business Law.

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What’s next

Time limits may apply to certain investor claims, so prompt action is encouraged. Investors who believe they may have suffered losses in connection with Marat Likhtenstein or related investment activities are encouraged to contact MDF Law for a free and confidential consultation to evaluate their potential FINRA arbitration or civil claims.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance for investors to seek legal counsel to explore their options for recovering losses from alleged fraudulent investment schemes, as criminal prosecutions and regulatory actions do not automatically compensate victims for their financial losses.