Jurors to decide if Brian Watson defrauded investors or was only ‘less than perfect’

Brian Watson Faces Trial for Investment Fraud Allegations

Denver developer Brian Watson, whose career was disrupted by a 2020 FBI raid and ongoing corruption claims, appeared in court for the first time on Monday for a five-day trial. However, the trial focuses on three civil counts of investment fraud, unrelated to the allegations made by Amazon concerning data centers in Virginia.

Watson, formerly CEO of WDC Holdings doing business as Northstar Commercial Partners, is accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of making misleading statements to investors. Watson and Northstar deny these accusations.

The SEC lawsuit alleges that Watson and Northstar raised over $50 million from 350 investors between April 2017 and August 2019 for 11 projects, misleading investors about their own contributions to the projects.

During the trial, the SEC attorney claimed that Watson and Northstar engaged in a “bait and switch” tactic to attract investors. However, Watson’s lawyer argued that his clients invested earnest money in each project and that the SEC unfairly focused on specific deals.

Despite challenges during jury selection, a panel of nine jurors, including a farmer, a doctor, a house cleaner, and a stay-at-home mom, were chosen to determine Watson’s guilt or innocence. One juror was excused due to a conflict of interest, and another was dismissed after revealing their employment at Amazon.

The trial continues to unfold as both sides present their evidence and arguments. Stay tuned for updates on this high-profile case.