SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Gregory Webb, a Chicago Tech Executive
The SEC has obtained a final judgment against Gregory Webb, the former Chairman and CEO of a company purportedly in the homeland security business. In October 2011, the SEC charged Gregory E. Webb, the Chairman and CEO of InfrAegis,… Read More
Court Enters Final Judgments in Eb-5 Scheme, Ordering Return of $25.8 Million to Defrauded Chinese Investors
On November 19, 2018, a U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered final judgments on consent against defendants Edward and Jean Chen, husband and wife, and five entity defendants who had been charged with defrauding… Read More
Owner of Options Trading Website, Mark Suleymanoy Charged for Defrauding Retail Investors
On December 3,2018 the SEC charged Mark Suleymanov of Glen Cove, New York with engaging in an online binary options scheme that defrauded retail investors out of approximately $4 million. The SEC’s complaint alleges that from at least… Read More
Three Florida Residents charged with Orchestrating a Fraudulent Public Shell Company Scheme
The SEC announced on December 3,2018 fraud charges against a Florida-based CPA, a former broker, and his spouse, for their roles in a fraudulent scheme involving the creation and sale of a public shell company and false regulatory… Read More
A Kentucky Man, Jared Forrester charged for Role in Nationwide Oil Investment Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged a 35-year-old Jared Forrester for his role in a scheme that resulted in the fraudulent offering and sale of at least $15 million of securities to more than 150 investors. The SEC’s… Read More
SEC Charges Network Marketer with Masterminding a Multimillion Dollar Ponzi and Pyramid Scheme
The SEC has charged Eric “EJ” Dalius and seven corporate entities that he controlled with defrauding investors through the promotion and operation of a multimillion dollar Ponzi and pyramid scheme. The SEC alleges that Eric “EJ” Dalius, who… Read More
SEC Charges Self-Described Promoter with Microcap Market Manipulation Scheme
On November 29, 2018, the SEC charged Eric Landis, a self-described penny stock promoter and an entity he controlled with orchestrating a scheme to manipulate trading in at least 97 microcap stocks. According to the SEC’s complaint, Eric… Read More
SEC Accepts Settlement Offer Against Ricardo Goldman
On November 29, 2018, the SEC determined to accept the Offer of Settlement which was submitted by Ricardo Goldman. A resident of Miami, Florida,Ricardo Goldman was a broker with an unregistered broker-dealer, American Capital Group. From at least… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgement Against Steven Newman
On November 9, 2018, the Honorable Nicholas G. Garaufis of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered a final judgment against defendant Steven Newman. The final judgment imposes on Newman a permanent… Read More
Hurricane Restoration Company and Executives Settle SEC Accounting Fraud Charges
The former CEO and CFO of a now-defunct Dallas and New Orleans-based disaster remediation and construction business, Home Solutions of America, Inc have agreed to pay disgorgement and penalties to settle accounting fraud charges brought by the SEC…. Read More
SEC Announces Settlement in Fraud Case Against Cornelius Peterson
On January 31, 2018, the Commission filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts charging Cornelius Peterson and his former colleague, James Polese, with securities fraud for engaging in various schemes to… Read More
SEC Charges U.S. Congressman Christopher Collins and Others With Insider Trading
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Aug. 8, 2018 the filing of insider trading charges against Congressman Christopher Collins, the U.S. Representative for New York’s 27th Congressional District, his son, Cameron Collins, and a third individual, Stephen Zarsky…. Read More
Yao Li Settles Insider Trading Charges
On July 24, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Yao Li, a senior executive at a Silicon Valley fiber optics company agreed to settle charges that he made nearly $200,000 in illicit profits by trading on… Read More
SEC Charges John Paulsen for Aiding & Abetting Pay-To-Play Scheme
On July 26, 2018, the Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed a civil injunctive action against John A. Paulsen, a former managing director and fixed income research analyst at a registered broker-dealer, for aiding and abetting a pay-to-play… Read More
OTC Markets OTCQB, OTCQX, OTC Pink Quotation, Listing and Disclosure
Public companies with shares traded on OTC Markets OTC Link® ATS are organized into three unique market places. In part, the trading market depends upon whether the issuer is required to comply with the SEC Reporting Requirements. The… Read More
What Is a Private Placement Offering? Securities Lawyer 101
Securities Lawyer 101 Blog The Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) provides for a private offering or private placement exemption from federal securities registration which is increasingly being used by companies seeking to raise capital during market downturns and… Read More
SEC Charges Andrew Kandelapas in Penny Stock Fraud Scheme
On April 13, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Andrew Kandelapas with making false and misleading statements in the company’s SEC filings and press releases and with manipulating the company’s stock. The SEC’s complaint against Andrew Kandalepas,… Read More
SEC Charges Clifton Stanley in Multimillion Dollar Ponzi Scheme Targeting Seniors
On April 6, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Clifton Stanley in a $2.4 million Ponzi scheme and in a related, $1.4 million offering fraud targeting retirees. The SEC’s complaint alleges that, from 2010 to 2017, Clifton… Read More
Capital Cove Bancorp LLC and Christopher Lee aka Rashid Khalfani Charged with Defrauding Investors to Pay Over $3.8 Million
On April 11, 2018, a federal district court has ordered Christopher Lee aka Rashid Khalfani, whom the Securities and Exchange Commission charged in 2015 with pocketing money raised from investors, to pay over $3.8 million in disgorgement and… Read More
SEC Charges Saverio Barbera with Insider Trading
On April 5, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Saverio Barbera with tipping his brother and father with material nonpublic information about an upcoming corporate acquisition. The SEC’s complaint, filed in the United States District Court for… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Merrill Robertson Charged With Running $10 Million Fraud
On April 5, 2018, a federal district court in Richmond, Virginia has entered a final judgment against Merrill Robertson, Jr., a former football player charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with defrauding investors, including coaches he knew from his… Read More
SEC Charges John Jumper with Stealing Millions from a Pension Plan
On April 18, 2018 the Securities and Exchange Commission charged John Jumper with stealing approximately $5.7 million from a Pennsylvania company’s pension plan. According to the SEC’s complaint filed in federal court in Memphis, Tennessee, on three separate… Read More
Shane Fleming Charged with Insider Trading
On September 29, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Shane Fleming, a middleman tipper, and six traders with insider trading ahead of the announcement that the company would be purchased and taken private. In a complaint filed… Read More
SEC Charges Michael Scronic with Engaging in Ponzi-like Scheme
On April 4, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Michael Scronic with fraud stemming from lies to retail investors about the value of their investments in a Ponzi-like scheme. The SEC alleges that, starting in approximately 2010,… Read More
SEC Charges Michael Liberty with Fraudulent Scheme to Defraud Investors and Misappropriate Funds
On April 4, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Michael Liberty, the founder of the fintech startup now known as Mozido, Inc., with a fraudulent scheme to trick hundreds of investors into investing in his shell companies… Read More
SEC Charges Amrit Chahal with Fraud
On April 16, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Amrit Chahal with orchestrating an investment scheme over several years. The SEC’s complaint alleges that, from at least February 2015, Amrit Chahal, of Fairfax, Va., used his company,… Read More
SEC Detects William Gennity and Rocco Roveccio Defrauding Customers
On September 28, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged William Gennity and Rocco Roveccio with making unsuitable recommendations that resulted in substantial losses to customers and hefty commissions for the brokers. One of the brokers agreed to… Read More
Christopher Lollar Settles Charges of Insider Trading Ahead of Oil Discovery Announcement
On April 4, 2018, Christopher Lollar has agreed to settle SEC charges that he conducted insider trading ahead of a market-moving announcement about the company’s discovery of a significant new oil source. The SEC alleges in its complaint,… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Vincent Cassano Charged with Fraudulent Stock Promotion Scheme
On April 10, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington entered a final judgment against Vincent Cassano for his role in a fraudulent stock promotion scheme. According to the SEC’s complaint, Lidingo Holdings, LLC hired… Read More
SEC Charges Charlie Chen and Shui Foon Mok in Multi-Year Trading Scheme
On April 5, 2018, The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Charlie Chen for making an extraordinarily profitable series of unlawful trades in the securities of Massachusetts-based VistaPrint, N.V. According to the SEC’s complaint, Charlie Chen used private information… Read More