The Securities Laws That Apply to Crowdfunding – Rules and Regulations

If you intend to raise money using the regulations for crowdfunding or take your company public, you will need to understand how the SEC’s registration statement requirements work, and how you may be able to raise money from the correct application of federal and state exemptions from registration. Crowdfunding is the solution…

Short Sale – Q & A – Short Seller Rules – Regulation SHO Lawyers

A short sale transaction can be part of a legitimate trading strategy if done legally. Illegal  Short selling… 

SEC Rule 10b-5 l Securities Lawyer 101

SEC Rule 10b-5 is the primary anti-fraud provision of the federal securities laws. It was adopted pursuant to Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”), as amended and is the primary rule used in securities… Read More

Raymond Pirrello, Jr, Founder and Executive of Prior2IPO, Charged in Investment Fraud

On December 6, 2023, a three-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Raymond John Pirrello, Jr., also known as “Ray John,” with securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and securities fraud relating to a scheme… Read More

SEC Charges Philip Verges, James D. Tilton, Jr., Robert F. Malin and Linda Malin

On September 26, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC“) filed charges against Texas resident Philip Verges (“Verges”), James D. Tilton, Jr. (“Tilton”), Robert F. Malin, Linda Malin, Esq., and Blue Citi, LLC (“Blue Citi”) for their… Read More

Wells Notices for Meta Materials Execs

As summer peaked at the end of July, Meta Materials (MMAT) popped back into the news. What had happened? The company filed a Form 8-K explaining that MMAT, its CEO George Palikaras. and John Brda, the former CEO… Read More

SEC Charges Broker-Dealer Alpine Securities Corporation and Two Employees with Engaging in Unauthorized Securities Transactions

On August 10, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged broker-dealer Alpine Securities Corporation, its former Chief Executive Officer Christopher Doubek, and its current Chief Operations Officer Joseph Walsh with engaging in a series of unauthorized… Read More

SEC Charges Trends Investments Inc., Clinton Greyling and Leslie Greyling

On June 9, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged Trends Investments Inc. and five individuals, Clinton Greyling of Florida, Leslie Greyling (Clinton’s father, a resident of the United Kingdom), former Massachusetts resident Brandon Rossetti, Roger… Read More

SEC Charges Securities Fraud Recidivist Phillip W. Offill, Jr. and Justin W. Herman in Penny Stock Fraud Scheme

On January 19, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged securities fraud recidivist Phillip W. Offill, Jr. and Justin W. Herman (a former FINRA registered broker) with misappropriating and selling millions of shares of a penny stock company using… Read More

SEC Charges Robert Gandy and Others in 3(a)(10) Penny Stock Scheme

On November 9, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged four individuals and their companies, including a securities fraud recidivist, with scheming to issue free-trading shares of two penny stock companies through the use of bogus documents in… Read More

Jeffrey D. Martin Charged with Manipulating Publicly Traded Stocks in Multiyear “Pump and Dump” Securities Fraud Scheme Worth Over $19 Million

On November 19, 2020, the United States Attorney William M. McSwain filed a superseded Indictment against Jeffrey D Martin, 61, of Orlando, FL. Martin was charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of securities fraud and wire fraud, related to his manipulation of several publicly-traded securities in a “pump and dump” scheme in which Martin and his co-schemers allegedly defrauded investors out of over $19 million.

SEC Charges John McAfee, Jimmy Watson, Jr with Fraudulently Touting ICOs

On October 6, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged businessman and computer programmer, John McAfee, for promoting investments in initial coin offerings (ICOs) to his Twitter followers without disclosing that he was paid to do so. McAfee’s bodyguard, Jimmy Watson, Jr., was also charged for his role in the alleged scheme.

SEC Charges Danny Williams Former Executive of a Truckload Freight Company with Accounting Fraud

On May 9,2019, the SEC charged Danny Williams, the former President of Quality Companies, LLC, a former subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Celadon Group Inc., with an accounting fraud that allowed Celadon to avoid disclosing substantial losses and misrepresent its… Read More

SEC Announces Fraud Charges in Ticket Resale Investment Scam

On April 29,2019, the SEC charged James Siniscalchi, a New York City man with continuing a previously charged scheme, stealing millions of dollars from investors who were allegedly falsely promised their funds would be used for the purchase and… Read More

SEC Charges Truckload Freight Company with Accounting Fraud

The SEC charged on April 25,2019, an Indianapolis-based Celadon Group Inc. with an accounting fraud that allowed the truckload freight company to avoid disclosing substantial losses and misrepresent its financial condition. In a complaint filed in federal court… Read More

SEC Charges Four in Fraudulent Microcap Manipulation Scheme Orchestrated Through International Account

The SEC charged Morrie Tobin and three other individuals for their roles in a scheme to profit from the manipulation and illegal sale of stock of two publicly traded companies, Environmental Packaging Technologies Holdings, Inc. and CURE Pharmaceutical… Read More

SEC Charges Gregory Bercowy with Market Manipulation Scheme

On April 4, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Gregory Bercowy with a fraudulent scheme to manipulate the stock price of Aureus, Inc., a penny stock company incorporated in Nevada. The SEC alleges that between August… Read More

SEC Charges Beaufort Securities for Manipulative Trading in Microcap Penny Stocks

On March 2, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission The SEC announced securities fraud charges against Beaufort Securities, a U.K.-based broker-dealer and its investment manager in connection with manipulative trading in the securities a U.S.-based microcap issuer.  The… Read More

Peter Chang Charged for Insider Trading

On September 20, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Peter Chang, the former CEO of a Silicon Valley-based fiber optics company, with insider trading in company stock by using secret brokerage accounts held in the names of… Read More

Mayank Gupta Settles Insider Trading Charges

On September 13, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that Mayank Gupta, a former auditor, has agreed to settle charges that he tipped his relative with inside information about a client on the verge of a… Read More

Leon Vaccarelli Charged With Fraud

On August 31, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Connecticut-based broker representative and investment adviser Leon Vaccarelli and his company with fraudulently persuading several elderly customers to invest with him and then spending their money on… Read More

Adesh Tyagi Receives Final Judgement

On August 21, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has obtained a final judgment against Adesh Tyagi, the former CEO of a penny stock company charged with making false claims in press releases and engaging in manipulative trading in… Read More

DiMaria and Gamsey Receive Final Judgements

On August 16, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it has obtained final judgments against DiMaria and Gamsey, two former executives of Bankrate Inc. In September 2015, the SEC charged the two executives, Edward DiMaria and… Read More

Final Judgements Entered Against LocatePlus Holdings Officers

On June 27, 2017, the Honorable Douglas P. Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered final judgments against the former CEO and CFO of LocatePlus Holdings Corp, a Massachusetts-based information technology company. The… Read More

Fei Yan Faces Insider Trader Charges

On July 12, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced insider trading charges against Fei Yan, a research scientist, who allegedly searched the internet for “how sec detect unusual trade” before making a trade that the agency flagged… Read More

SEC Obtains Final Judgement for Ryan Petersen

On July 5, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it has obtained a final judgment against Ryan Petersen, the former chief executive officer of OCZ Technology Group Inc. whom the SEC charged with an accounting… Read More

SEC Charges K-T 50 Wells With Fraud

On July 7, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced charges against K-T 50 Wells, a purported oil well company, its founders, and three salespeople in connection with a $2.4 million offering fraud. The SEC’s complaint, filed… Read More

SEC Charges Arista’s CEO and Attorney

On June 20, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced charges involving a scheme to disguise the nature of Arista, a public company’s financing amid financial difficulties, and a corresponding manipulation of the price of the company’s… Read More

SEC Files Fraud Charges Against Robert Murray

On May 19, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed fraud charges against Robert Murray, a Virginia-based mechanical engineer accused of scheming to manipulate the price of Fitbit stock by making a phony regulatory filing. According to the… Read More

Walter Little and Neighbor Charged by SEC for Insider Trading

On May 11, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Walter Little, a former partner at an international law firm, and his neighbor with making more than $1 million in illicit profits by insider trading around corporate… Read More