In the fall of 2022, before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ever filed a formal complaint, Mr. Barton’s legal team submitted a detailed account of what truly transpired behind the scenes of the so-called “Wall entity” projects. This submission was not only a plea for fairness—it was a factual chronology, backed by documents, contracts, and sworn statements. It revealed who really orchestrated the deals. And yet, after receiving it, the SEC ignored its implications. Instead, they doubled down—leading to the wrongful arrest of Mr. Timothy Barton.
Michael Fu is the Architect of the Scheme
The story begins not with Mr. Barton, but with a man named Haoqiang Fu, also known as Michael Fu. Mr. Fu was the undisputed architect and promoter of the real estate ventures that are now under scrutiny. Years before Mr. Barton became involved, Mr. Fu brokered home sales for his Chinese clients through his companies—Platinum Investment Corporation (PIC) and Yding Investment Management Co. His ties to powerful Chinese officials, including his business partner Haibo Jiang, added an opaque layer of international influence.
In 2016, Fu struck a deal with Stephen Wall, a Texas developer, to acquire land in Seagoville, Texas. Mr. Barton had no part in this initial deal. Only after Fu’s original developer backed out was Mr. Barton approached to provide development services. Encouraged by trusted advisors, he agreed to help—unaware of the web he was walking into.
A Series of Projects—and a Series of Failures
What followed was a rapid rollout of real estate ventures—Wall007, Wall009, Wall010, and more. These projects were all initiated on the promise that Mr. Fu would fully fund them with capital raised from his Chinese clients. He signed exclusive agreements for fundraising and took hefty commissions. But the promised funds never fully materialized.
Despite Fu’s failure to deliver, Mr. Barton and his company, JMJ Development, moved forward—on faith, on contracts, and on repeated assurances that funding would arrive. Yet each time, Fu pocketed commissions while leaving the projects underfunded. The collapse was inevitable.
Misuse of Power and False Allegations
When it became clear the ventures were crumbling—due largely to Mr. Wall and Fu’s underfunding and broken promises—Fu turned to aggressive litigation to deflect attention. He and Wall filed involuntary bankruptcies and state court actions, seeking to force resolution through the courts rather than accountability.
To make matters worse, when Mr. Barton tried to shine a light on the truth during SEC interviews, the investigators allegedly redirected the narrative—cutting off any exploration into Mr. Fu’s central role. Critical evidence was ignored. Testimonies were constrained. The result? A deeply flawed “Wells Notice” from the SEC in May 2022, which mischaracterized the situation and misidentified the parties responsible.
A Breach of Trust
The SEC accused Mr. Barton and others of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. No funds were ever used to repay earlier investors. There were no profits disguised as returns. There was simply a business plan—sabotaged by the very man who created it. The SEC failed to consider that none of the Chinese lenders were misled by Mr. Barton, and all communications and terms were brokered by Mr. Fu.
Continuing Deception
Even after the fallout, Fu and Wall continued their business relationship. In July 2019, they formed Wall020, LLC—without Mr. Barton. This proved once and for all that Mr. Barton was not the instigator. He was brought in as a fee developer, not as a financier, not as a fundraiser, and certainly not as a mastermind.
The Real Victims
Mr. Barton, incurred immense financial loss—not just from Fu’s betrayal, but from the litany of legal actions and public accusations. Meanwhile, Fu and his entities have reaped millions in commissions and have largely escaped scrutiny.
What we face today is not just a legal battle, but a battle for truth. The DOJ’s actions, prompted by a misinformed SEC complaint, have led to the wrongful criminalization of an innocent businessman. And all of it started with a letter—this letter. A letter ignored.
A Call for Accountability
We urge the SEC and the DOJ to revisit the facts. We call on the public to understand the real chain of events. And we demand accountability—not just for those wrongfully targeted, but for those who weaponized the system to protect themselves.
The truth is clear. The documents exist. The facts don’t lie.
And neither will we.
To understand how the misuse of receivership mechanisms played a central role in Timothy Barton’s legal challenges, read the full breakdown here.