Going Public & Exchange Act Registration For Foreign Issuers

Foreign companies going public in the United States must file a registration statement covering a class of securities pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) if the class of securities will be listed… Read More

DTC Eligibility Q&A

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”), through its subsidiaries, provides clearing, settlement and information services for securities. DTCC’s subsidiary, the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), was created to improve efficiencies and reduce risk in the clearance and settlement… Read More

Hamilton & Associates Law Group: Regulation A+ White Paper

Regulation A+ White Paper www.securitieslawyer101.com   This publication is intended to provide information of general interest to the public and is not intended to offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. Hamilton & Associates Law Group, P.A…. Read More

SEC Charges Andrew DeFrancesco, Marlio Mauricio Diaz Cardona, Carlos Felipe Rezk, Nikola Faukovic, and Catherine DeFrancesco for their roles in a fraudulent scheme to mislead investors about Cool Holdings, Inc

On January 6, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced charges against five individuals for their roles in a fraudulent scheme to mislead investors about Cool Holdings, Inc., a publicly-traded company (“Cool”). The SEC alleges that, from… Read More

SEC obtains asset freezes and other emergency relief against StraightPath Venture Partners LLC, StraightPath Management LLC, Brian K. Martinsen, Michael A. Castillero, Francine A. Lanaia, and Eric D. Lachow

On May 16, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) obtained asset freezes and other emergency relief against StraightPath Venture Partners LLC, StraightPath Management LLC, Brian K. Martinsen, Michael A. Castillero, Francine A. Lanaia, and Eric D…. 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 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.

OTC Markets Policies on Section 17(b) and Stock Promotion

The SEC and Section 17(b) Stock Promotion In the over-the-counter equities market, paid stock promotion has long been of concern to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and to responsible market participants.  Recently the OTC Markets has taken… Read More

When Private Placements Go Public – Rule 506-c Attorneys

Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933 provides a private placement exemption from federal securities registration which is increasingly being used by companies seeking to raise capital prior to going public. 

Form 10-Q Quarterly Reports, Filing Requirements l Going Public Lawyer

Publicly traded companies with a class of securities registered under Section 12 or subject to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), are subject to the SEC’s periodic and current reporting requirements… Read More

Court Imposes Lifetime Officer-And-Director Bars On Two Corporate Officers

A federal district court has permanently barred two former corporate officers of a North Carolina-based hygiene and sanitation company from serving as officers or directors of public companies. The SEC charged the two officers of Swisher Hygiene, Inc., Michael J…. Read More

Due Diligence in Accredited Crowdfunding Offerings – Securities Lawyer 101

Even though Accredited Crowdfunding Offerings are exempt under Rule 506(c) and no specific disclosure requirements apply, under most circumstances, the anti-fraud provisions mandate disclosure of certain information to investors

SEC Obtains Asset Freeze Against Former CEO Charged with Misappropriating Investor Funds

The SEC announced on December 14, 2018 charges against Thomas Laws, the former CEO of Santa Fe Gold Corporation, for the misappropriation of investor funds. The SEC also obtained an asset freeze against Thomas Laws. The SEC’s complaint, unsealed… 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

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 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

Osiris Therapeutics Charged With Accounting Fraud

On November 2, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Osiris Therapeutics, a Maryland-based biotech company, and four former top executives with prioritizing revenue growth over lawful accounting and misleading investors in the process. The SEC alleges… Read More

David Fuselier Charged for Fraudulent Scheme

On June 6, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged David Fuselier, a chief executive officer, with perpetrating a fraudulent scheme to create the false appearance of improvement in the financial statements of two publicly traded companies… Read More

Louis Buonocore and 4 Others Charged for Operating a Fraudulent Penny Stock Scheme

On September 29, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged five individuals for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to illegally profit by manipulating the market and price for the stock of Ecoland International, Inc. (now known as… Read More

Four Fraudsters Charged in Arco Hills Silica Mining Company Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Gordon Jenkins, Theodore Sweeten, Francis Kreais and Craig Parkinson with orchestrating an offering fraud involving the sale of interests in a purported mining company, Arco Hills Silica Company. The SEC’s complaint, filed… Read More

John Ragsdale Charged with Aiding and Abetting Penny Stock Fraud

On August 22, 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it has charged John Ragsdale of South Carolina with aiding and abetting a penny stock fraud involving now-defunct U.S. public company Global Earth Energy, Inc. (Global Earth),… Read More

Global Digital Solutions of West Palm Beach, FL and CEO Charged with Fraud

On August 12, 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged West Palm Beach-based Global Digital Solutions, former chairman and CEO Richard Sullivan, and former CFO David Loppert with defrauding investors by issuing false and misleading press releases purporting… Read More

David Aubel and Robert Raffa Charged with Stock Manipulation Scheme

On April 7th, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced fraud charges against two men behind a scheme to manipulate the stock of Green Energy Renewable Solutions, Inc., a company that purported to be in the business… Read More

AVEO Pharmaceuticals Misleads Investors About FDA Approval of New Drug

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced fraud charges against a Massachusetts-based biotech company and three former executives for misleading investors about the company’s efforts to obtain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its flagship developmental drug to… Read More

SEC Charges John Bivona and Saddle River Advisors with Fraud

On March 25, 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced fraud charges and asset freezes obtained in a case filed against a New Jersey-based fund manager and two firms he controls that marketed shares in promising pre-IPO tech… Read More

SEC Charges American Growth Funding II with Fraud

  On February 3, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a lending company in Manhattan, American Growth Funding II LLC and its owner, Ralph Johnson, with repeatedly lying to investors who purchased high-yield securities. The SEC… Read More

SEC Obtains Summary Judgment Against Andrew Farmer in Pump-And-Dump Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on October 9, 2015, that on October 7, 2015, it secured a summary judgment on all of its claims against Andrew Farmer in a market manipulation case involving the securities of Chimera… Read More