Thomas J. Moore, III

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 26663 / October 1, 2026

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Thomas J. Moore, III, No. 1:26-cv-00286-LG-BWR (S.D. Miss. filed Sept. 30, 2026)

SEC Charges Mississippi Man with Fraud in Alleged Marijuana Company Investment Scheme

On September 30, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Thomas J. Moore, III, a resident of D’Iberville, Mississippi, with misappropriating approximately $1.94 million from approximately 20 individuals in connection with a medical marijuana business Moore primarily owned and controlled.

According to the SEC’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, between at least December 2021 and August 2024, Moore raised approximately $4.94 million from investors to whom he offered and sold equity interests in Mississippi Green Oil, LLC, a Prentiss, Mississippi-based medical marijuana company that he established in or around December 2020, and represented to investors that he would use their money to develop Mississippi Green Oil’s business.  As alleged, Moore spent approximately $1.94 million of investor funds on personal expenses unrelated to the business of Mississippi Green Oil including jewelry and travel.  Moreover, the complaint alleges that Moore also told investors that they would receive short-term profit distributions commensurate with their equity interests but Moore failed to pay investors any distributions.  The complaint further alleges that Moore failed to disclose to prospective investors and investors the existence of various related lawsuits filed by other Mississippi Green Oil investors alleging, among other things, failure to return their principal and pay promised distributions.

The SEC’s complaint charges Moore with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.  The SEC seeks a permanent injunction, a conduct-based injunction, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty against Moore.  

The investigation was conducted by Cecilia Danger and supervised by Jessica M. Weissman, Fernando Torres, and Stephanie N. Moot, all of the SEC’s Miami Regional Office.  The litigation will be led by Michael Mikulic under the supervision of Russell Koonin.