The Securities and Exchange Commission, along with defendants Troy Barnes and Kristi Johnson, filed stipulation agreements on February 20, requesting a preliminary injunction. The SEC sought to halt what it identified as an ongoing Ponzi scheme, Achieve Community, aiming to preserve assets and prevent further investor harm.

A hearing on February 23 resulted in a preliminary injunction against Troy Barnes. This order replaced a temporary ex-parte order, ensuring the continued freeze of assets and prohibiting Barnes from further fraudulent activity. His frozen assets currently total approximately $2.5 million. The court order covers "assets, funds, or other property of Troy A. Barnes, wherever located, which derive, directly or indirectly, from any investor funds obtained by or on behalf of the Defendants or Relief Defendant in connection with the scheme alleged in the SEC's Complaint." Kristi Johnson's injunction status remained unresolved, with a separate hearing scheduled for February 24.

The SEC had also asked the court to permit witness testimony by telephone if necessary.

Barnes and Johnson had depositions scheduled for February 20 and February 23 respectively. Both individuals informed the court they would "invoke their Fifth Amendment privileges in response to questions during their depositions." This led to the cancellation of both depositions.

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal case. Their invocation suggests Barnes and Johnson either face a grand jury indictment or seek to avoid self-incrimination in a related criminal investigation. While the specific agency running the criminal probe has not been publicly identified, such investigations often fall under the purview of the Department of Justice.

An unusual aspect of the case is the lack of response from two named defendant entities: Work With Troy Barnes and Achieve Community International LLC. Work With Troy Barnes allegedly facilitated domestic money laundering for the scheme. Achieve Community International LLC, reportedly established by Johnson, was intended to move funds overseas.

An SEC attorney's declaration, filed in support of the preliminary injunction, stated the commission learned "Defendant Barnes has discussed moving victim funds in this matter outside of the United States in a manner that would make recovery for the benefit of investors particularly difficult or impossible." The silence from these corporate entities raises questions about whether it represents an oversight or a deliberate tactic by Barnes and Johnson to complicate asset recovery.

Further complicating the financial picture, Defendant Johnson withdrew approximately $80,000 in cash from Achieve Community investor accounts on February 6, 2015. The current location of these funds and any other undisclosed assets remains unknown.