Court Enters Final Judgment Against eAdGear and Its Operators
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on February 1, 2016, the Honorable Richard Seeborg of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California entered final judgments against defendants eAdGear Holdings Limited, eAdGear, Inc.,… Read More
Robert Bray Found Guilty of Insider Trading
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on January 28, 2016, a jury in the federal court in Boston Massachusetts, returned a guilty verdict against Watertown real-estate developer Robert Bray in a criminal trial prosecuted by… Read More
SEC Charges CAUSwave and Its Principals with Fraud
On December 14, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a Pittsboro, North Carolina-based startup energy company and two executives with defrauding investors in an unregistered stock offering as they purported that a big influx of capital… Read More
SEC Files Subpoena Against President of FX & Beyond Corporation
On December 9, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained a court order in its subpoena enforcement action against respondent Steve Karroum that requires Mr. Karroum to sign a written consent for the release of his e-mails from… Read More
Robert Seibert Charged In Scheme Targeting Seniors
On December 2, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Robert Seibert with operating a multi-year offering fraud that targeted elderly investors. According to the SEC’s complaint: Seibert, who was previously charged by the SEC in 1993… Read More
Jehu Hand Charged with Market Manipulation Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a California-licensed attorney and a stock promoter behind a pump-and-dump scheme that defrauded investors in Greenway Technology, a Las Vegas-based company purporting to operate resorts for gay and lesbian travelers. The… Read More
Court Approves Settlement Between SEC and Covenant Partners
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued an order approving of the terms of a proposed settlement between the SEC and Covenant Partners, L.P., a Philadelphia-area private equity fund.
Court Enters Summary Judgment Against Enron’s Former CEO
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained a summary judgment against former Enron president, COO, and CEO Jeffrey Skilling to conclude its civil case that was stayed by the court starting in 2004 until the outcome of criminal… Read More
SEC Files Suit Against Promoter of ZeekRewards
On December 4, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit against Trudy Gilmond for her participation in the unregistered offer and sale of securities through Rex Venture Group LLC d/b/a ZeekRewards.com, an internet-based combined Ponzi… Read More
SEC Late Filers 101 – Going Public Attorneys
It’s that time of year again when companies filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that have a December 31st year end, must file their annual report on Form 10-K. Recent enforcement actions against SEC filers and insiders… Read More
SEC Charges Hui Feng With EB-5 Offering Fraud
The SEC filed a complaint alleging that Hui Feng and his firm, Law Offices of Feng & Associates P.C., acted as unregistered brokers by selling EB-5 investments to over 100 foreign investors, who were also their legal clients,… Read More
Court Finds Wayne Palmer Guilty in Ponzi Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) won a case involving a Ponzi scheme. According to the SEC Wayne Palmer and his company National Note of Utah. The SEC filed fraud charges against them in June 2012 in connection with the Ponzi… Read More
SEC Files Subpoena Against NetCirq LLC
On November 25, 2015, the SEC filed a subpoena enforcement action against NetCirq, LLC (“NetCirq”). According to the SEC’s application and supporting papers, the SEC is investigating whether NetCirq and others have violated or are violating provisions of the federal… Read More
Cry Me a Sater…Felix Sater & Donald Trump
In February 2015, Felix Sater proudly announced the debut of a new website. As he puts it, it “showcases [his] accomplishments, contributions, musings, and availability.” Though Sater describes himself as a veteran of the commercial real estate… Read More
Court Enters Final Judgment In Penny Stock Case
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that the Court entered a final judgment against Defendant Chad Smanjak on November 23, 2015 in SEC v. Ruettiger, et al., Civil Action No. 1:11-CV-02011, a penny stock manipulation case the… Read More
SEC Acquires Court Order for an Asset Freeze for Lin Zhong
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on November 19, 2015 that it has obtained a court order freezing the assets of a South Florida woman and her company accused of purchasing a boat and luxury cars with… Read More
SEC Announces Emergency Halt on Fraudster’s Operations
On December 1, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the entry of a Consent Order (“Order”) halting an alleged ongoing investment fraud by James Torchia and various related entities involving the sale of promissory notes and… Read More
Court Enters Final Judgment Against Prima Capital Group
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on September 29, 2015, a final judgment was entered against Efstratios “Elias” Argyropoulos of Santa Barbara, California, and his solely owned company, Prima Capital Group, Inc. In addition to the… Read More
SEC Charges Two Bitcoin Companies for Operating a Ponzi Scheme
On December 1, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged two Bitcoin mining companies and their founder with conducting a Ponzi scheme that used the lure of quick riches from virtual currency to defraud their investors…. Read More
SEC Obtains Asset Freeze In EB-5 Scam
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an asset freeze obtained against two people in San Bernardino, California accused of defrauding Chinese investors who invested in their related companies in an effort to obtain U.S. residency through the… Read More
Court Enters Final Judgment Against Tropikgadget In Pyramid Scheme
On November 12, 2015, a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, entered a final judgment against Tropikgadget FZE and Tropikgadget Unipessoal LDA (collectively, “Tropikgadget”) of Portugal, defendants in a previously-filed enforcement action. In February 2015, the SEC charged Tropikgadget operating under the… Read More
Steven Watson Charged with Insider Trading – Securities Attorneys
On November 17, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Steven Watson with insider trading fraud, claiming he illegally profited from news of a proposed acquisition of Cooper Tire and Rubber Company by Apollo Tyres Ltd. Earlier this year, the… Read More
SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against EB-5 Attorneys
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has obtained final judgments against a former Los Angeles-based immigration attorney, his wife, his former law firm partner and five entities he controlled for conducting an investment scheme to… Read More
Court Enters Final Judgment Against 5 Companies and Owner
On November 12, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that the Court awarded summary judgment and entered a final judgment in favor of the SEC against defendants Brett Cooper, Global Funding Systems LLC, Dream Holdings, LLC,… Read More
5 Star Commercial, 5 Star Capital, and Operator Earl Miller Charged with Fraud
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on November 5, 2015 an emergency enforcement action was filed in federal district court against Earl Miller (Miller) and two private investment vehicles that he controlled, 5 Star Commercial, LLC… Read More
SEC Charges EB-5 Offering Attorneys – Securities Lawyer 101
On December 7, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a series of enforcement actions against lawyers across the country charged with offering EB-5 investments while not registered to act as brokers. In one case, a lawyer and his firm… Read More
Zhichen Zhou and Yannan Liu Charged with Insider Trading
On November 10, 2015 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced insider trading charges and an emergency asset freeze against cousins Zhichen Zhou and Yannan Liu. The SEC alleged that the Defendants traded in advance of the acquisition of… Read More
