SEC Pursues Unregistered Dealers, Toxic Financing, Toxic Convertible Notes

2020 has been a historic year for Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) enforcement action against toxic lenders as unregistered dealers.

SEC charges former Nikola CEO with securities fraud

On July 29th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced charges against Trevor R. Milton, the founder, former CEO and former executive chairman of Nikola Corporation, for repeatedly disseminating false and misleading information – typically by speaking… Read More

SEC Charges Charlie Abujudeh in Microcap Fraud Scheme Targeting Retail Investors

On July 22, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filed an emergency action charging California resident Charlie Abujudeh with running microcap fraud schemes targeting retail investors. According to the SEC’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District… Read More

SEC charges Marlon Muller with stock manipulation

  On July 15th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced charges against Marlon Muller for engaging in a pattern of coordinated trading intended to artificially raise and sustain the price of microcap issuer EMS Find, Inc…. Read More

TD Ameritrade puts out list of liquidation only stocks ahead of September 28, 2021 Rule 15c-211 amendments

On September 28, 2021, new amendments to Rule 15c-211 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 go into effect to enhance investor protection and improve issuer transparency. These amendments will restrict the ability of market makers to publish… Read More

SEC charges former CEO and CFO of FTE Networks, Inc with accounting fraud

Today, July 15, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged the former CEO and CFO of FTE Networks, Inc. (“FTE”), a network infrastructure company formerly based in Naples, Florida, with conducting a multi-year accounting fraud. The… Read More

SEC Suspends Trading in 55 Abandoned Issuers in Sweeping Order

Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) suspended trading in 55 publicly traded penny stock companies because of public interest concerns. According to the Order, all 55 issuers have stopped making public disclosures putting their operating status… Read More

SEC Charges Three Individuals with Insider Trading

On July 9th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged three individuals with insider trading in advance of an announcement by Long Blockchain Company (formerly known as Long Island Iced Tea Co.) that it was going to… Read More

SEC sanctions Elaine A. Dowling and Harold P. Gewerter and charges Shawn Hackman in scheme to skirt a previous ban

On July 1st, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filed charges against banned attorney Shawn F Hackman for violating a September 10, 2002 Commission Order that suspended him from appearing or practicing before the Commission as an… Read More

SEC Charges Goldman Small Cap Research and its Owner for Failing to Disclose Compensation

On June 30, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced settled charges against Reuben Robert Goldman and his online stock promotion firm, Two Triangle Consulting Group LLC, which does business under the name Goldman Small Cap Research,… Read More

SEC Suspends Trading in Enerkon Solar International Inc (ENKS)

On Wednesday, June 23rd, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) suspended trading in Enerkon Solar International Inc (ENKS). The Suspension Order cited multiple public interest concerns. Specifically, the lack of adequate and accurate information in Enerkon’s quarterly… Read More

OTC Markets Requests 15c-211 Disclosures by June 30

    OTC Markets Pink companies will need to update their disclosure to ensure they comply with the new requirements. Alternative Reporting Companies: OTC Markets has updated the Disclosure Guidelines for Alternative Reporting Companies to include all the information… Read More

Rule 15c2-11 Compliance Deadline Is Just Around the Corner

In September of last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11. In early 2020, we wrote about amendments to Rule 15c2-11 that were proposed by the SEC in September 2019. The object of… Read More

SEC Charges Mark Miller for Hijacking Inactive Penny Stock Companies to use for Pump & Dump Schemes

On Friday, June 18th, the SEC filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota against Minnesota resident, Mark Allen Miller, for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to target at least seven inactive penny-stock companies with the intention of profiting through pump & dump activity.

Senators Leahy and Grassley Introduce EB-5 Investor Visa Integrity Reform Bill

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member and former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2021 to address fraud and national security vulnerabilities in the EB-5 investor visa Regional Center Program, which has been exploited and abused for years.

SEC Charges RenovaCare, Inc and its Controlling Shareholder with Securities Fraud

On May 28, 2021, the SEC charged RenovaCare Inc (RCAR) and its controlling shareholder, Harmel S. Rayat, with securities fraud for intentionally concealing Rayat and the company’s role in promotional activities, including by drafting and issuing a press release that denied their participation in those activities.

SEC Charges U.S. Promoters of $2 Billion Global Crypto Lending Securities Offering

On May 28, 2021, the SEC announced charges against five individuals alleging that they promoted a global unregistered digital asset securities offering that raised over $2 billion from retail investors.

The SEC just suspended my stock! Now what?

It can be the worst feeling in the world. You wake up, get your trading station all ready for a new day of profitable trading, but then the unthinkable happens. The market opens, but not that volatile issuer that had been running big, making your trading account look so good.

SEC Charges Healthcare Company and Its Founder with Multimillion Dollar Fraud

On May 19, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged a New Jersey-based healthcare company and its founder, Josiah David (formerly known as Dennis Lee), with fraudulently raising nearly $4 million from over 130 investors nationwide through the sale of membership units in the company.

Two Jackson Men Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Conspiracy

On May 20, 2021, Ted Brent Alexander and Jon Darrell Seawright both of Jackson, Mississippi, were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a large multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme that adversely affected hundreds of victims across multiple states over about eight years.

Going Public: Myths and Misinformation about Reverse Mergers

Myths and misinformation: The truth behind reverse mergers. What is really the best way to go public? Direct Public Offering vs Reverse Merger – which is the best choice for your business? How to save money and time.

David C. Coggins Sentenced for $1.3 Million Securities Fraud Scheme

On Friday, May 14, 2021, David C Coggins, 42, of Miami, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,305,000 in restitution for operating an investment scheme in which he used investor funds to repay other investors and misappropriated funds for himself, including to pay for personal use, a vehicle and travel.

There has never been a better time to be a Whistleblower

Since the start of the whistleblower program, the SEC has received more than 26,000 whistleblower submissions. Those tips have led to more than $3.5 billion in investor losses being recovered and over $842 million in awards being paid out to whistleblowers

SEC Charges Broker-Dealer for Failures Related to Filing Suspicious Activity Reports

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced settled charges against GWFS Equities Inc. (GWFS), a Colorado-based registered broker-dealer and affiliate of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, for violating the federal securities laws governing the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).

Mark Lisser Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud Conspiracy

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Mark Lisser pleaded guilty to securities fraud conspiracy for lying to customers about investments in shares of several companies prior to the initial public offering (IPO) of those companies.  

SEC Charges Under Armour Inc With Disclosure Failures

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged sports apparel manufacturer Under Armour Inc. with misleading investors as to the basis of its revenue growth and failing to disclose known uncertainties concerning its future revenue prospects. Under Armour has agreed to pay $9 million to settle the action.

Court Enters Judgments Against Promoters in Pump-And-Dump Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered final judgments against the remaining three defendants in a 2019 SEC action charging them for their alleged roles in a pump-and-dump scheme in the stock of southern California beverage and cannabis company Green Cures & Botanical Distribution, Inc (GRCU).

TD Ameritrade to restrict orders in Caveat Emptor designated OTC securities to liquidating trades only

According to a statement posted on the TD Ameritrade website, the popular trading platform will restrict orders in Caveat Emptor designated OTC securities to liquidating trades only starting May 25, 2021.

Robinhood Legal Battle Updates

The Securities and Exchange Commission case against Robinhood Financial moved one step closer to a payout when the SEC issued an Order appointing JND Legal Administration as the Fund Administrator of the Fair Fund established for the $65,000,000 that Robinhood Financial had agreed to pay on December 17, 2020.

SEC Charges Ubong Uboh and Tyler Crockett for Using a Call Room to Manipulate Stocks

On April 20, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against Ubong Uboh and Tyler Crockett for soliciting investors to purchase shares of several microcap issuers from a call room in Miami, Florida.