SEC Charges Texas Radio Host for Ponzi Scheme Targeting Elderly Investors
The SEC announced on March 12, 2019 that it has charged Texas resident William Neil “Doc” Gallagher-the self-styled “Money Doctor” featured on three Dallas-area radio stations-in an emergency action to shut down a $19.6 million Ponzi scheme targeting… Read More
SEC Settles with Biotech Insider Trader
The SEC charged on February 21, 2019, Joseph Frank Vacante, a former employee of a biotech company with insider trading on confidential information regarding the company’s withdrawal of certain products from consideration by the U.S. FDA. Joseph Frank… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Former Broker for Defrauding Customers
On March 1, 2019, a federal district court entered a final consent judgment against broker, William Gennity who was charged with defrauding customers by making unsuitable and unauthorized trades and churning customers’ accounts that enriched the broker at… Read More
SEC Announces Settlement Against Former Investment Adviser, James Polese
On February 22,2019 the SEC announced the entry of a final judgment against James Polese, a former investment adviser at a large financial institution who was charged with misappropriating client funds. On January 31, 2018, the Commission filed… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgments Against Former CEO and Former CFO of General Cable Corp.
On February 20, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered final judgments on consent against Mathias Francisco Sandoval Herrera and Maria D. Cidre, the former Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Financial Officer,… Read More
SEC Files Charges in Elaborate Microcap Stock Fraud
On February 15, 2019 the SEC announced charges against four individuals and related businesses for their roles in two microcap frauds and unlawful securities offerings. In sum, the alleged illegal transactions resulted in proceeds of more than $25… Read More
SEC Charges Cognizant and Two Former Executives With FCPA Violations
On February 15, 2019, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation has agreed to pay $25 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and two of the company’s former executives were charged for their roles in… Read More
SEC Charges Former Executives of Lucent Polymers, a Plastics Manufacturer with Fraud
On February 12, 2019, the SEC charged two former high-ranking executives, of an Indiana-based plastics manufacturer with concealing from potential buyers of the manufacturer the fact that the company’s core business model was a sham. According to the… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Ponzi Scheme Targeting Retail Investors
The SEC obtained a final judgment on February 8, 2018, against Niket Shah, a New Jersey resident who was charged last year by the agency with stealing more than $250,000 in a Ponzi scheme in which his friends… Read More
The Cato Institute Files Action Challenging SEC Gag Orders
On January 9, the Cato Institute filed suit against the Securities & Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), its chairman Jay Clayton, and its secretary Brent J. Fields. For decades, questions have been raised, and criticisms offered, of the SEC’s longstanding practice of… Read More
SEC Charges Robert Alexander, Founder of Online Gaming Company for Defrauding Investors
On February 7,2019, the SEC charged Robert Alexander with fraudulently raising approximately $9 million from more than 50 individuals by selling investments in Kizzang LLC, a purported online gaming business. According to the SEC’s complaint, among other misrepresentations,… Read More
Scottsdale and John Hurry Push Back to Stop FINRA Investigation
On December 17, 2018, John Hurry broker dealer, Scottsdale Capital Advisers Corporation sued the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), for breach of contract in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Scottsdale and its sister company,… 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 Files Subpoena in Possible Market Manipulation Scheme
The SEC filed a subpoena enforcement action against three penny-stock companies and their CEO – Cherubim Interests, Inc., PDX Partners, Inc., Victura Construction Group, Inc., and Patrick Jevon Johnson – seeking an order directing them to comply with… Read More
SEC Charges Taiwan-Based Insurance, China United with Fraudulent Market Manipulation Scheme
A Taiwan-based insurance company, China United Insurance Service, Inc. and one of its former managers have agreed to settle fraud charges brought by the SEC relating to a scheme to manipulate the company’s trading volume. The complaint alleges that,… Read More
SEC Obtains Judgment Against Former CEO John Place
On November 9, 2018, the SEC obtained a judgment against John Place, a former CEO of a brokerage consulting business who was charged by the SEC in August for his role in a multimillion dollar transition management fraud…. Read More
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
SEC Sues Orange County Investment Adviser, Craig Arsenault for Defrauding Clients
On December 14, 2018 the SEC charged Craig Arsenault, a California investment adviser with misappropriating client funds and misleading his clients about how their money was invested and how their investments were performing. The SEC is seeking an… Read More
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
Form S-1 Registration Statement Filings – Securities Lawyers – Going Public
Form S-1 registration statement filings are used by companies seeking to raise capital and go public. The Form S-1 filing …
SEC Files Subpoena Enforcement in Possible Market Manipulation Scheme
The SEC filed a subpoena enforcement action against NVC Fund LLC and its principal, Frank Ekejija, seeking an order directing them to comply with an investigative subpoena for documents and testimony. According to the SEC’s application, filed on… Read More
The SEC Declared A Cease and Desist Proceedings with CoinAlpha Advisors LLC.
On December 7, 2018, CoinAlpha Advisors LLC submitted an Offer of Settlement, which the SEC has determined to accept. CoinAlpha Advisors LLC consented to the Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act of 1933, Making… Read More
SEC Voluntary Dismisses All Claims Against Jesse Litvak
On December 6, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut entered an order dismissing, with prejudice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s complaint against Jesse Litvak. The court’s order was based on the SEC’s motion… Read More
SEC Charges Technology Fund Adviser, Founder in Fraudulent Scheme
The SEC charged Michael Rothenberg, the founder of San Francisco-based venture capital funds and his investment advisory firm with overcharging investors to fund personal projects, including sending millions of dollars to his own virtual reality production company. The… 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
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