ICOP Regains Compliance With Nasdaq Listing Requirements

LENEXA, KS, Jul 23 (MARKET WIRE) —
ICOP Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICOP), an industry-leading company engaged in
advanced mobile video technology solutions, today announced that it has
been notified by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC that the Company has met the
requirements of the March 24, 2010 decision of the Listing Qualifications
Panel of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the “Panel”), and that the Panel
has determined to continue the listing of the Company’s securities on The
NASDAQ Stock Market.

Additionally, effective July 21, 2010, the Company’s trading symbol was
restored from ICOPD to ICOP.

About ICOP Digital, Inc.
ICOP Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICOP) is a leading
provider of in-car video and mobile video solutions for Law Enforcement,
Fire, EMS, Military, and Homeland Security markets worldwide. ICOP
solutions help the public and private sectors mitigate risks, reduce
losses, and improve security through the live streaming, capture and
secure management of high quality video and audio. www.ICOP.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking
statements. You should not rely too heavily on forward-looking statements
because they are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our
operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to
predict and many of which are beyond our control. The Company may
experience significant fluctuations in future operating results due to a
number of economic, competitive, and other factors, including, among
other things, our reliance on third-party manufacturers and suppliers,
government agency budgetary and political constraints, new or increased
competition, changes in market demand, and the performance or reliability
of our products. This, plus other uncertainties and factors described in
our most-recent annual report and our most-recent prospectus filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, could materially affect the
Company and our operations. These documents are available electronically
without charge at www.sec.gov.

For more information, contact:
Melissa K. Owen
Dir. of Communications
16801 West 116th Street
Lenexa, KS 66219 USA
Phone: (913) 338-5550
Fax: (913) 312-0264
mowen@ICOP.com
www.ICOP.com

For Investor Relations:
DC Consulting, LLC
Daniel Conway
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (407) 792-3332
investorinfo@ICOP.com
daniel@dcconsultingllc.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

World Cup helps Baidu score record Q2

Internet searches surged during the World Cup soccer tournament, helping Baidu.com score its best quarter ever in terms of revenue and net profit.

China’s largest Internet search provider said revenue surged 74 percent from last year to a record US$282.3 million, while net profit climbed 119 percent to $123.5 million.

Baidu credited healthy growth in its customer base and improved efficiency for the strong performance, but also noted the surge in Internet search related to the World Cup. The first game of the competition kicked off on June 11 and the final was played July 11.

“This quarter’s strong performance also underscores the vast Internet market opportunities for us and the growing appreciation for search engine marketing in China,” said Robin Li, Baidu’s chairman and CEO, in a statement.

Analysts have said that Baidu also gained from Google’s decision last March to re-route China-based searches through Hong Kong to avoid censorship laws in China. Some advertisers dropped Google and turned to Baidu.

Investors sent shares of Baidu stock up 3.2 percent, or $2.33, to $75.64 in after-market trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, after the company reported its results.

During a conference call, one analyst asked Baidu about its plans for a mobile phone operating system to rival Google’s Android. News sources in China have reported that Baidu is working on a mobile OS, but the company declined to comment specifically on any project.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen faster growth in mobile search versus PC search but it’s still a very small percentage of our search traffic,” Li said on the call. He noted that most people in China don’t have 3G mobile phones, making Internet search less popular than PC search, but that “going forward, we think the cell phone will take over and mobile traffic will take over.”

“We have a number of very exciting projects going on internally and obviously we are excited about the mobile Internet going forward,” he said.

The company expects its third quarter to be even better than its record-breaking second quarter, forecasting revenue of $324.4 million.

NASDAQ OMX Introduces Two Sharia-Compliant Indexes

NEW YORK and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The NASDAQ OMX
Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced the introduction today of two new
Sharia-compliant indexes based on two of the world’s most widely-followed
benchmarks: The NASDAQ-100 Index(R) (Nasdaq:NDX) and the OMX Stockholm Benchmark
Index (OMXSB). The new NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index(SM) (N100SI) and the OMX
Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index(SM) (OMXSBSHARIA) are the first of a new family
of indexes launched by NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group that are designed to serve
investors who wish to develop and maintain an Islamic investment portfolio.

The NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index and the OMX Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index are
designed to track the performance of securities in their underlying indexes that
meet the Sharia requirements as prescribed by the Accounting and Auditing
Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and adopted by NASDAQ
OMX with the guidance of the Sharia advisor, BMB Islamic UK Ltd.

The NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index is a modified market-capitalization weighted index
designed to track the performance of the Sharia-compliant securities of the
NASDAQ-100 Index. The NASDAQ-100 Index includes 100 of the largest domestic and
international non-financial securities listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market(R)
based on market capitalization. The index reflects companies across major
industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications,
retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology.

The OMX Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index is designed to track the performance of
the Sharia-compliant securities in the OMX Stockholm Benchmark Index. The OMX
Stockholm Benchmark Index consists of the 80 to 100 largest and most traded
stocks on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm, representing all sectors.

“The NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index and the OMX Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index were
developed to meet increasing demand for a wider variety of Islamic investment
opportunities,” said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs. “These new
Sharia-compliant indexes are a continuation of NASDAQ OMX’s commitment to
designing and calculating world-class indexes and to providing investors with
relevant, objective indexes.”

According to BMB Islamic’s CEO Dr. Humayon Dar, who heads the Sharia monitoring
process for the indices, “The new Sharia indices by NASDAQ OMX herald a new era
of Islamic investing, especially for those who are looking for sophisticated
Sharia compliant solutions beyond plain vanilla Islamic equity funds.”

The NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index began calculating on June 22, 2010 at a base value
of 1000.00, while the OMX Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index began calculating on
May 31, 2010 — also at a base value of 1000.00.

About NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group

NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group is engaged in the design, development,
calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ OMX Indexes. NASDAQ OMX Global
Index Group specializes in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ OMX’s
brand themes of innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NASDAQ OMX
Global Index Group also provides custom index services and design solutions as a
third-party provider to selected financial organizations. For more information
about NASDAQ OMX indexes, visit www.nasdaq.com/indexes.

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It delivers
trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents,
with more than 3,600 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital
raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings
market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the
U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes
including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and
exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70
exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more
than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal
entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki,
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information
about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The matters described herein may contain forward-looking statements that are
made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements
about the NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index, the OMX Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index and
NASDAQ OMX’s other products and offerings. We caution that these statements are
not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond
NASDAQ OMX’s control. These factors include, but are not limited to, factors
detailed in NASDAQ OMX’s annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to
release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

The NASDAQ-100 Sharia Index and the OMX Stockholm Benchmark Sharia Index
(“Indexes”) are the exclusive property of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., and with
its affiliates, is collectively “NASDAQ OMX”.

NDAQG

CONTACT: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
Media Contact:
Wayne Lee
+1.301.978.4875
Wayne.D.Lee@NASDAQOMX.Com
Issuer & Investor Contact:
Lisa Chaney
+1.301.978.8281
Lisa.Chaney@NASDAQOMX.com

Evolving Systems CEO Thad Dupper Marks Company’s 25th Anniversary by Ringing the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell

ENGLEWOOD, CO, Jun 07 (MARKET WIRE) —
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL), a leading provider of software
solutions and services to the wireless, wireline and cable markets, today
announced that Chairman and CEO Thad Dupper will visit the NASDAQ
MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square on Monday, June 7, 2010, and
preside over the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell.

The event coincides with Evolving Systems’ celebration of its 25th
anniversary. A live webcast of the NASDAQ Closing Bell event will take
place from 3:50 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time at

http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx

“We are delighted to preside over the NASDAQ Closing Bell as part of our
25th anniversary celebration,” said Dupper. “Over the past 25 years we
have evolved from a small start-up to a global company supporting more
than 70 network operators in over 40 countries. Along the way, the
technologies we’ve pioneered have helped many of the world’s leading
carriers enhance their service offerings and reduce their operating
costs. In recent months we have reported our strongest year-end and first
quarter results as a global company, and our diverse software portfolio,
highlighted by our new Dynamic SIM Allocation(TM) solution, positions us
to extend our success well into the future. I want to take this
opportunity to thank our many loyal customers, shareholders and staff
members around the world who have contributed to our success. We are
looking forward to another 25 years with confidence and commitment.”

About Evolving Systems
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL) is a
provider of software and services to more than 70 network operators in
over 40 countries worldwide. Its portfolio includes market-leading
products for Service Activation, Service Verification, Process
Management, Dynamic SIM Allocation, Number Portability, Number Inventory
and Mediation solutions. Founded in 1985, the Company has headquarters in
Englewood, Colorado, with offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, India
and Malaysia. Further information is available at www.evolving.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, based on current expectations, estimates and
projections that are subject to risk. Specifically, statements about the
Company’s growth and future profitability, future business success, the
Company’s continued ability to drive technical innovation and post
quarterly or annual results that are similar to those described in this
press release and the impact of new products and accounts on the
Company’s business are forward-looking statements. These statements are
based on our expectations and are naturally subject to uncertainty and
changes in circumstances. Readers should not place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, and the Company may not undertake to
update these statements. Actual results could vary materially from these
expectations. For a more extensive discussion of Evolving Systems’
business, and important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please
refer to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2010, as
well as subsequently filed Forms 10-Q, 8-K and press releases.

CONTACTS:

Investor Relations
Jay Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc.
303.393.7044
jay@pfeifferhigh.com

Evolving Systems
Sarah Hurp
Marketing Manager
+44 (0) 1225 478060
sarah.hurp@evolving.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

NASDAQ OMX Announces NASDAQ Volatility Guard(SM) to Protect Investors and Listed…

NASDAQ OMX Announces NASDAQ Volatility Guard(SM) to Protect Investors and Listed
Companies

NEW YORK, June 2, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced a proposal to protect investors and listed
companies while increasing transparency in the U.S. equity markets during times
of volatile market conditions.

NASDAQ will implement a single stock circuit breaker — the NASDAQ Volatility
GuardSM — which will pause trading based on predetermined thresholds across all
NASDAQ-listed securities. The NASDAQ Volatility Guard will allow data to be
universally available before, during and after the trading pause. Additionally,
the reopening process will be available to all market participants for better
price discovery.

The NASDAQ Volatility Guard will supplement the coordinated effort by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. exchanges for an initial pilot
program ending December 10th, which establishes a trading pause for individual
stocks within the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index that experience a price change of
10 percent or more.

“NASDAQ’s Volatility Guard will protect investors and increase transparency by
preventing anomalous trades like the ones that took place on May 6th, while
supporting market-makers who bring liquidity to the investor community and our
listed companies,” said Bob Greifeld, Chief Executive Officer NASDAQ OMX.

The NASDAQ Volatility Guard will go into effect in the third quarter of 2010.

For more information on the NASDAQ Volatility Guard including a video message
from Bob Greifeld, the SEC filing and the Wall Street Journal announcement
please visit: http://www.nasdaqomx.com/volatilityguard

About NASDAQ OMX Group

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It delivers
trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents,
with more than 3,600 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital
raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings
market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the
U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes
including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and
exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70
exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more
than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal
entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki,
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information
about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com. Please follow NASDAQ OMX on
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nasdaqomx) and Twitter
(http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The matters described herein may contain forward-looking statements that are
made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements
about NASDAQ OMX’s products and offerings. We caution that these statements are
not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond
NASDAQ OMX’s control. These factors include, but are not limited to, factors
detailed in NASDAQ OMX’s annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to
release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

Neither The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., nor any of its affiliates (collectively
“NASDAQ OMX”) makes any recommendation to buy or sell any security or any
representation about the financial condition of any company. Investors should
undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before
investing.

NDAQG

CONTACT: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
Media Contacts:
Silvia Davi
+1 (646) 441-5014
Silvia.Davi@NASDAQOMX.com
Wayne Lee
+1 (301) 978-4875
Wayne.Lee@NASDAQOMX.com
Robert Madden
+1 (646) 441-5045
Robert.Madden@NASDQOMX.com

RightNow CEO to Make Special Cloud Announcement on March 4, 2010

BOZEMAN, Mont.–(Business Wire)–
RightNow (NASDAQ: RNOW) today announced that Greg Gianforte, chief executive
officer, will make a special cloud announcement and will hold a brief question
and answer session during which he may provide updates on the business, on
Thursday, March 4, 2010, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, CA at 9:30 am
PT.

For details on the announcement livestream, please visit:
www.rightnow.com/march2010. An archived webcast of the announcement will be
available until March 15, 2010 on RightNow`s website at
www.rightnow.com/march2010.

About RightNow

RightNow is helping rid the world of bad experiences one consumer interaction at
a time, seven million times a day. RightNow CX, the customer experience suite,
helps organizations deliver exceptional customer experiences across the web,
social networks and contact centers, all delivered via the cloud. With more than
eight billion customer interactions delivered, RightNow is the customer
experience fabric for nearly 2000 organizations around the globe. To learn more
about RightNow, go to www.rightnow.com.

RightNow is a registered trademark of RightNow Technologies, Inc. NASDAQ is a
registered trademark of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

FRNOW

Media
RightNow Technologies, Inc.
Chaundera Wolfe, 406-556-3323
cwolfe@rightnow.com
or
Horn Group for RightNow
Amy Grady, 415-905-4045
agrady@horngroup.com
or
Investor Relations
The Blueshirt Group
Todd Friedman or Stacie Bosinoff, 415-217-7722
todd@blueshirtgroup.com
stacie@blueshirtgroup.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Bernie Madoff – Bernie Madoff Sentencing – Bernie Madoff News – Bernie Madoff Verdict – Bernie Madoff Scandal – Madoff Sentenced To 150 Years In Prison – Judge Denny Chin

Bernie Madoff – Bernie Madoff Sentencing – Bernie Madoff News – Bernie Madoff Verdict – Bernie Madoff Scandal – Madoff Sentenced To 150 Years In Prison – Judge Denny Chin

Judge Denny Chin has handed down his verdict: Bernie Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years in prison, the maximum sentence. When it was announced, the courtroom erupted in cheers.

Judge Denny Chin said he needed to send a symbolic message to potential imitators and to victims who demanded harsh punishment.

Chin rejected a request by Madoff’s lawyer for leniency and said he disagreed that victims of the fraud were seeking mob vengeance.

“Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff’s crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of manipulation of the system is not just a bloodless crime that takes place on paper, but one instead that takes a staggering toll,” Chin said.

The 70-year-old Bernard Madoff, well respected in the investment community after serving as chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market, was arrested on charges of duping number of investors in his ponzi scheme. The investors ranged from pensioners, to super rich, to major financial institutes to charity organisations. He allegedly stole $50 billion and caused tragedy to number of lives.

BIOLASE to Transfer to The NASDAQ Capital Market

IRVINE, CA, Apr 15 (MARKET WIRE) —
BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLTI), the world’s leading dental laser
company, today announced that its application to transfer the listing of
its common stock from The NASDAQ Global Market to The NASDAQ Capital
Market has been approved by NASDAQ. The transfer will be effective at the
opening of business on Thursday, April 16, 2009, and the Company’s common
stock will continue to trade under the symbol “BLTI.”

BIOLASE Chief Executive Officer David M. Mulder said, “The transfer to the
Capital Market allows our investors to continue to benefit from our shares
being listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market. It also allows us to maintain our
visibility with the investment community while we continue to execute on
our business plan and recognize future opportunities for growth.”

The NASDAQ Capital Market is a continuous trading market that operates in
the same manner as The NASDAQ Global Market. All companies listed on The
NASDAQ Capital Market must meet certain financial requirements and adhere
to NASDAQ’s corporate governance standards.

About BIOLASE Technology, Inc.

BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (http://www.biolase.com), the world’s leading
dental laser company, develops, manufactures and markets Waterlase
technology and lasers and related products that advance the practice of
dentistry and medicine. The Company’s products incorporate patented and
patent pending technologies designed to provide clinically superior
performance with reduced pain, faster and biological recovery times.
BIOLASE’s principal products are dental laser systems that perform a broad
range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical
applications. Other products under development address ophthalmology, pain
management and other medical and consumer markets.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of safe harbor provided by the Securities Reform Act of 1995 that
are based on the current expectations and estimates by our management.
These forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of
words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,”
“seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” and variations of these words or
similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s
current, preliminary expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the Company’s actual results to differ
materially from the statements contained herein, and are described in the
Company’s reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its annual and quarterly reports. No undue reliance should be
placed on forward-looking statements. Such information is subject to
change, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements.

For further information, please contact:
Jill Bertotti
Allen and Caron
+1-949-474-4300

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-

FX Real Estate and Entertainment Inc. Announces Voluntary Delisting of Common Stock from NASDAQ and Receipt of Notice of Initiation of Trustee Sale Procedure against Las Vegas Property

Company Anticipates Last Day of Trading on NASDAQ on or about May 4, 2009; Plans
to Seek Listing on OTC Bulletin Board
NEW YORK–(Business Wire)–
FX Real Estate and Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: FXRE) announced that on April 8,
2009 it received notice from The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) indicating that,
as of December 31, 2008, FXRE is no longer in compliance with NASDAQ`s
continuing listing requirement of a minimum of $10,000,000 in stockholders`
equity.

Under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, FXRE is permitted to submit to NASDAQ a plan
to regain compliance with NASDAQ`s continued listing criteria. However, based on
FXRE`s deteriorating financial condition, FXRE has determined that it will not
be able to regain compliance. As a result, FXRE has provided notice to NASDAQ of
its intent to voluntarily delist its common stock from NASDAQ. On or about April
24, 2009, FXRE will file a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the delisting. The delisting is expected to be effective 10 calendar
days after filing the Form 25. FXRE anticipates that the last day of trading for
its common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market will be on or about May 4, 2009.
FXRE will seek to have its common stock quoted on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin
Board shortly after the date of delisting from The NASDAQ Global Market, though
FXRE cannot provide any assurances in this regard.

FXRE further announced that on April 9, 2009, as a result of its Las Vegas
subsidiaries continuing to be in default under the $475 million mortgage loan
secured by their Las Vegas property, the first lien lenders sent a Notice of
Breach and Election to Sell, which initiates the trustee sale procedure against
the Las Vegas property to satisfy the principal amount of $259 million and other
obligations owed to them under the mortgage loan and secured by the property.

Under Nevada law, the Las Vegas subsidiaries have the legal right to cure the
default during a 35-day redemption period that expires on May 18, 2009 or else
the Las Vegas property may be sold thereafter in accordance with Nevada law (the
process takes approximately 120 days) in a trustee sale to satisfy the first
lien lenders` obligations secured by the property. Neither FXRE nor its
subsidiaries are able to cure the default. Consequently, FXRE and the Las Vegas
subsidiaries are considering all possible legal options, including bankruptcy
proceedings. FXRE cannot guarantee to what extent, if any, such actions may be
viable or effective.

FX Real Estate and Entertainment Inc.
Ed Tagliaferri, 212-981-5182

Copyright Business Wire 2009

Mass. regulator sues Madoff ‘feeder fund’

Massachusetts’ top securities regulator sued Fairfield Greenwich Group, which funneled billions of dollars into Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, accusing the hedge fund firm of misleading investors.

The lawsuit filed on Wednesday marks the first charges against one of Madoff’s so-called “feeder funds” after the disgraced Wall Street legend pleaded guilty on March 12 to orchestrating Wall Street’s biggest-ever investment fraud.

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said Fairfield Greenwich had lied about reviewing exactly how Madoff managed to generate strong and steady returns over decades even when the market was down.

Galvin said Madoff coached the Fairfield Greenwich executives, who once managed about $14 billion, on how to escape regulators’ scrutiny in 2005.

“In stark contrast to the promises made in its marketing materials and in statements to clients, Fairfield neglected to do any meaningful check into whether Madoff was actually making trades he said he was making, or actually holding the assets he said he was holding,” Galvin said in his civil complaint.

Fairfield Greenwich’s Sentry Funds had placed about $7.2 billion, or 95 percent of its assets, with Madoff.

Madoff has confessed to perpetrating a fraud worth as much $65 billion over 20 years, involving more than 4,800 client accounts.

A Ponzi scheme pays early investors returns from the investments made by later clients.

Galvin’s complaint suggests Madoff’s business was a windfall for Fairfield Greenwich co-founder Jeffrey Tucker, earning him about $100 million a year in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

The complaint also found that Fairfield principals “matter-of-factly discussed amongst themselves the risk that Madoff would ‘blow up,’ but did not disclose that risk to investors.” Any worries were clearly brushed off because Fairfield Greenwich pumped $14.8 million into Madoff’s business only days before the former Nasdaq stock market chairman was arrested in December.

ALLEGED COACHING

Galvin did not say how many Massachusetts residents were affected or give a figure for how much money may have been lost. He is asking that Fairfield Greenwich return the fees that investors paid and the money they invested as well as pay an administrative fine.

Most damning may be Galvin’s allegations that Madoff prepared top executives at Fairfield in 2005 on how they should respond to federal securities regulators’ questions about him. The move came after a whistleblower told officials that he suspected Madoff was running a fraud.

“Obviously, first of all, this conversation never took place, Mark, OK?” Madoff told Fairfield Greenwich General Counsel Mark McKeefrey and Chief Risk Officer Amit Vijayvergiya, according to a transcript Galvin included in his complaint.

At one point on the call Madoff tells the men: “I mean, the idea is that it’s — is that we’re not the one that’s making the decision how much to — I mean, you know – you know, we’re not the one that’s operating the fund.”

A spokesman for Fairfield Greenwich said the firm is reviewing the complaint and has no immediate comment.

“These are obviously very serious allegations when one starts accusing parties of colluding with respect to coordinating testimony to give to the Securities and Exchange Commission,” said Brenda Sharton, who works on Madoff-related cases as a partner at law firm Goodwin Procter.

Galvin, one of the first state regulators to pursue the Madoff case aggressively, has long been concentrating on the so-called feeder funds and said he was looking at others as well.

His lawsuit came one day after a Connecticut judge froze the assets of Madoff’s sons and five top hedge fund industry officials, including three Fairfield Greenwich executives.

Also on Wednesday, U.S. officials seized Madoff’s 56-foot fishing yacht, named “Bull,” in Florida.

Mass regulator charges Madoff feeder fund

Massachusetts’ top securities regulator charged hedge fund firm Fairfield Greenwich Group with fraud for allegedly lying to investors about confessed swindler Bernard Madoff’s phony management business.

The action on Wednesday marks the first charges against one of Madoff’s feeder funds, which funneled billions of dollars into the disgraced Wall Street legend’s long-running Ponzi scheme.

William Galvin, Massachusetts’ secretary of state, accused Fairfield Greenwich, a prominent hedge fund firm in Connecticut, of failing to check how Madoff generated the strong and steady returns he said he made year after year.

“The allegations against Fairfield in this complaint outline a total disregard for such (fiduciary) responsibility which helped the Madoff scheme to stay afloat for so long,” Galvin said in a statement.

Galvin wants Fairfield Greenwich to return the money that Massachusetts investors lost in the scheme and return the performance fees they paid the firm. He is also seeking an administrative fine against Fairfield.

Fairfield Greenwich’s Sentry Funds had placed about $7.2 billion, or 95 percent of its assets, with Madoff, whose fraud appears to have totaled about $65 billion.

Galvin found that Fairfield Greenwich insiders pumped $14.8 million into Madoff’s business only days before the 70-year-old former Nasdaq stock market chairman confessed to authorities that his business had been a fraud.

Madoff, who was jailed on March 12 after pleading guilty, will be sentenced on June 16.