Quote from lescor:
There was no capital shortfall at Tuco, no missing money. It was stuff like a group taking a payout of their profits at the end of the month and the account used to make the payment showed the debit, but the sec accountants wouldn't recognize the offsetting equity in the trader's sub accounts, so they counted it as 'missing money'. Or ecn's that owe the firm credits, but pay a month after the fact.
Tuco had excess capital when the sec stepped in, more than enough to pay all the traders all of their money. The way the sec handled things though, making the company pay for all the sec's expenses and the disgusting money grab of the court appointed receiver, we hope we'll get it all back. If we don't get every dime back, well, I guess that's the cost of having the government 'protect' us. Exactly the same as having the Corleone family protect your business.