A complex web of cease and desist orders spanning seven years, allegations of fraud, and a documented history of regulatory action has ensnared the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government, revealing a persistent pattern of deceptive practices by entities operating under the names Apex Capital Bank, the Southern Cherokee Nation and Red Fire People (SCNRFP), and their affiliates.
A Seven-Year Pattern of Ignored Regulatory Orders
At the heart of this ongoing saga are multiple cease and desist orders from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The first order, issued on August 23, 2017, targeted the Southern Cherokee Nation and The Red Fire People Central Bank and Depository Trust, along with Walter Charlie Pressley (a/k/a Chief Gees-Due OO-Neh-Gah Usti). This was followed nearly seven years later by a second cease and desist order issued on September 12, 2024, against Apex Capital Bank d/b/a Apex Capital Reserve Bank. Both orders allege that these entities were operating as unlicensed banks, a clear violation of state and federal law. The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance has no record of either entity being authorized to conduct banking business, yet they have been marketing themselves as such to the public.
The persistence of these fraudulent operations across seven years suggests a troubling pattern: the regulatory orders appear to have been ignored, and the fraudulent schemes have simply evolved and adapted, potentially operating under new names and corporate structures.
The 2017 SCNRFP Order: A Detailed Look
The August 2017 cease and desist order provides specific details about the SCNRFP’s fraudulent operations. According to the order, the Southern Cherokee Nation and The Red Fire People Central Bank and Depository Trust was operating from 705 Bracken Strasse, Building #101, Helen, Georgia 30547 and/or Post Office Box 192, Homer, Georgia 30547. The order explicitly states that the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance had no record of this entity and had not approved it to conduct banking business.
The order demanded that the SCNRFP immediately cease and desist from:
- Using “bank,” “trust,” or any derivative thereof in its name in any form, including internet websites, marketing materials, signage, correspondence, and legal documentation
- Claiming to be a bank in any form
- Providing any financial products or services to Georgia citizens by any delivery system, including the internet
- Engaging in the business of banking from within Georgia or into Georgia
The SCNRFP was ordered to respond to the Department by August 31, 2017, indicating the actions taken regarding compliance. The fact that these entities continued to operate—with Apex Capital Bank receiving its own cease and desist order in 2024—suggests the regulatory orders were either ignored or the fraudsters simply rebranded their operations.
The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government’s $18,000 Stolen
The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government has been directly impacted by these fraudulent activities. In a response to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, they detail how an affiliated entity, FUTUREHEAD GROUP, was defrauded of $18,000 by the SCNRFP. The SCNRFP allegedly sold FUTUREHEAD GROUP a fraudulent “license,” preying on their desire to establish a legitimate financial institution. The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government describes the SCNRFP as “fake, fraudulent, imitation, artificial Indians,” highlighting the deceptive use of a fabricated Indigenous identity to lend an air of legitimacy to their scheme.
This theft is particularly egregious because it exploits the concept of Indigenous sovereignty and legitimacy. By falsely claiming to represent an Indigenous nation, the SCNRFP not only stole money but also undermined the credibility of legitimate Indigenous governments like the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government.
Now, the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government is demanding the return of the stolen $18,000 and is holding the State of Georgia accountable under the Federal Indian Trust Responsibility, a legal principle that obligates the U.S. government to protect the rights and assets of Indigenous nations. They argue that Georgia’s failure to enforce the 2017 cease and desist order allowed the fraud to continue and directly harmed an Indigenous government.
A Widespread Campaign of Scam and Slander: The Victims List
The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government is far from the only victim of these deceptive practices. The SCNRFP and its affiliates have engaged in a widespread campaign of both financial fraud and reputational slander, targeting a diverse group of individuals and organizations. These victims have been subjected to false accusations, fraudulent schemes, and attempts to undermine their legitimacy.
The list of victims who have fallen prey to their scam and slander includes:
Organizations and Financial Entities:
- Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government
- FUTURE BDET BANK
- FUTURE BDET RESERVE BANK
- FUTURE HEAD GROUP
- THE FIRST BANK OF AKWESASNE
- SOVEREIGN AKWESASNE CENTRAL BANK
- BTCH Good Leaf Bank
- SAG Sovereign Ahkwesahsne Government
Individuals:
- THOMAS SQUARE AKA SALT RARAHKIWSERE OKAWHO
- Ruddie Sinigaglia aka Takoda Ahanu
- Sakima Iban Salih El Bey (alias Francis Marion Savalland Iban Salih El Bey Sakim)
- Eric Adams
- Mauricio Hernández
- Manolo Ierahkwa ne Kanienke Government INKG
- Nick Betancourt
- Cesar Forero
- Iris Tapia
- Edward Andrew Kader
- Jorge Hernan Quiroz
- Ramon Barcelo
This extensive list demonstrates that the SCNRFP’s operations are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy to target anyone who challenges their narrative or possesses assets they wish to exploit. By slandering these individuals and organizations on their websites and in public communications, the SCNRFP attempts to deflect attention from their own illegal activities and discredit legitimate entities.
A History of Fraud: The FTC and Apex Capital Group
The name “Apex” has a well-documented history of association with fraudulent schemes. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has pursued a significant case against Apex Capital Group, LLC, for a deceptive “free trial” offer scheme that defrauded thousands of consumers. The scheme involved:
- False advertising of “free trial” offers for personal care products and supplements
- Unauthorized billing and continuity plans that charged consumers without their consent
- Use of multiple shell companies and straw owners to obscure the operation
- Processing charges through dozens of merchant accounts to evade detection
In September 2024, the FTC announced that it was returning over $2.8 million to more than 153,000 victims of this scam. This case, which involved a web of shell companies, international payment processors, and deceptive marketing practices, establishes a clear pattern of fraudulent activity associated with the “Apex” brand.
The defendants in the FTC case included Apex Capital Group LLC, Phillip Peikos, David Barnett, and multiple United Kingdom-based shell companies: Capstone Capital Solutions Limited, Clix Trix Limited, Empire Partners Limited, Interzoom Capital Limited, Lead Blast Limited, Mountain Venture Solutions Limited, Nutra Global Limited, Omni Group Limited, Rendezvous IT Limited, Sky Blue Media Limited, and Tactic Solutions Limited. The complexity and international scope of this operation demonstrates the sophistication of these fraudsters and their ability to operate across borders while evading detection.
The SCNRFP’s Web of Confusion and Deception
A visit to the SCNRFP’s website (statescnrfpgov.ag) reveals a bizarre and confusing mix of sovereign citizen-style legal arguments, conspiracy theories, and accusations against anyone who challenges their legitimacy. The website is a textbook example of a tactic used by fraudulent organizations to create confusion, intimidate their victims, and discredit any negative information about them.
The website prominently features warnings about individuals allegedly involved in fraudulent banking schemes, including accusations against people like Gudmundur H. Bragason, Mark Harris, Mike Andrew Belch, and others for operating “XCP Bank” and “WEIT BANK.” While some of these warnings may reference real fraud, the SCNRFP’s use of its own website to make these accusations while simultaneously operating an unlicensed “bank” and promoting a fake Indigenous nation is deeply hypocritical and demonstrates a sophisticated disinformation strategy.
This tactic serves multiple purposes: it creates the appearance of legitimacy by positioning the SCNRFP as an authority on fraud detection, it confuses potential victims and regulators about who is actually committing fraud, and it provides cover for the SCNRFP’s own illegal activities. By accusing others of the very crimes they themselves are committing, the SCNRFP attempts to muddy the waters and make it harder for authorities and victims to identify the true perpetrators.
The Connection Between Entities
The relationship between Apex Capital Bank and the SCNRFP appears to be more than coincidental. Both entities have been issued cease and desist orders by Georgia for operating unlicensed banks. Both claim legitimacy through fake Indigenous nation status or government structures. And both have used similar tactics of creating confusion and making accusations against others while engaging in fraudulent activities themselves.
The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government’s response to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance suggests that the SCNRFP may have been the original perpetrator of the $18,000 fraud, with Apex Capital Bank potentially serving as a successor entity or related operation. The fact that both entities operate under similar structures and use similar deceptive tactics suggests they may be part of the same criminal enterprise or operated by individuals with overlapping connections.
A Call for Justice and Accountability
The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government’s experience is a stark reminder of the harm caused by these fraudulent schemes. By using fake Indigenous identities and operating unlicensed banks, entities like Apex Capital Bank and the SCNRFP not only steal money but also undermine the sovereignty and legitimacy of real Indigenous nations. The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government’s fight for justice is a fight for all victims of these deceptive practices.
The persistence of these fraudulent operations across seven years, despite regulatory cease and desist orders, raises serious questions about enforcement mechanisms and the adequacy of penalties for financial fraud. When fraudsters can ignore cease and desist orders and simply rebrand their operations, the regulatory system has failed both consumers and legitimate Indigenous governments.
The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government is invoking the Federal Indian Trust Responsibility to hold Georgia and the U.S. government accountable for their failure to protect Indigenous nations from fraud. This legal theory, grounded in centuries of treaties and federal law, establishes that the U.S. government has a fiduciary duty to protect the assets and rights of Indigenous nations. If Georgia’s Department of Banking and Finance knew or should have known that the SCNRFP was continuing to operate after the 2017 cease and desist order, then Georgia may bear some responsibility for the subsequent fraud against the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government.
Legal Actions and Filings
The following legal actions document the pattern of fraud and regulatory response:
| Entity | Action | Date | Details |
| Southern Cherokee Nation and Red Fire People | Georgia Cease and Desist Order | August 23, 2017 | Operating unlicensed bank; located at 705 Bracken Strasse, Helen, GA; Walter Charlie Pressley involved |
| Apex Capital Bank | Georgia Cease and Desist Order | September 12, 2024 | Operating as unlicensed bank; affiliated with apexcapitalbank.com, Apex Cape Bank, State of SCNRFP; Arthur Jay Lewis involved |
| Apex Capital Group, LLC | FTC Enforcement Action | 2018-2024 | Deceptive “free trial” scheme; $2.8 million returned to 153,940 victims; multiple shell companies involved |
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