Legal Proceedings - Hypur Ventures II: A Scottsdale Cannabis Investment Sham

Christopher E. Galvin | Hyper II Ventures

Investment Fraud Conviction: Christopher E. Galvin, 58, of Scottsdale, has been found guilty by a federal jury on one count of wire fraud. Galvin duped an investor into throwing $100,000 into a cannabis fund that, in reality, was nothing more than a smoke-and-mirrors operation. His sentencing is slated for May 30, 2025.

Back in April 2019, Galvin launched Hypur Ventures II, a slickly packaged fund that promised to pour money into cannabis industry businesses. He charmed an unsuspecting victim into parting with $100,000, all the while assuring them that the funds would be invested in real, legitimate cannabis enterprises. But instead of chasing green dreams, Galvin’s hands grew dirty. The cash disappeared into a personal black hole—covering his own legal fees, household bills, utilities, air conditioning repairs, and a slew of credit card payments. No investment, no returns, just a pocket stuffed with someone else’s hard-earned cash.

He kept feeding his victim the same old line—he’d repay the money, he’d make it right. But like a true swindler, Galvin never delivered. After a three-day trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich, the jury saw through his charade and convicted him. May 30, 2025, will mark the day he faces the consequences.

But this mess doesn’t stop at the criminal proceedings. Oh, no. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has now piled on with its own civil lawsuit. The SEC accuses Galvin of pulling the same stunt on two other investors, who were tricked into coughing up a combined $500,000. Like the first victim, the majority of that money ended up paying for Galvin's personal indulgences, not cannabis ventures. The SEC’s case is on ice for now, waiting for the criminal trial to wrap up.

This sordid tale serves as a cautionary reminder for anyone dipping their toes into the murky waters of investment: double-check the story, demand transparency, and don’t fall for a slick pitch promising high returns with no accountability. The world is full of sharks, and some of them wear cannabis-themed suits.