SEC Obtains Judgments Against James Wheeler and MicroHoldings

Securities Lawyer 101 – Securities Law Blog On October 31, 2014, the Securities & Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) obtained judgments MicroHoldings US, Inc., and its Chief Executive Officer, James Wheeler, in a securities fraud action that was filed… Read More

Founder of iShopNoMarkup Found Guilty

Securities Law Blog On October 14, 2014, a jury in federal court in Central Islip, New York returned a verdict in favor of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) finding the former Chairman of failed Long Island-based… Read More

SEC Obtains Final Judgment Entered Against 8000, Inc. CEO, Thomas Kelly

Securities Lawyer 101 – Securities Law Blog On October 9, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced a Final Judgment had been entered against Thomas Kelly, the former Chief Executive Officer of 8000, Inc.  8000, Inc. was… Read More

Geoffrey Eiten Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 In SEC Case

On October 8, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a final judgment against stock promoter Geoffrey Eiten.  Eiten is a defendant in an action… Read More

Craig Karlis Sentenced to 9 Years For Fraud Charges

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced that on September 16, 2014, the former owner of a Boston Trading and Research, LLC (“BTR”), was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he… Read More

SEC Charges 8 in Pump and Dump Scheme

On September 18, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced charges against eight individuals for their roles in an alleged pump-and-dump scheme involving a penny stock company based in California that has repeatedly changed its name and… Read More

Securities Lawyers Gone Wild – Justin Lee Charged in EB-5 Scheme

On September 3, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged an immigration and securities attorney, his wife, and his law firm partner with conducting an investment scheme to defraud foreign investors trying to come to the… Read More

Court Awards SEC Judgments Of Almost $70 Million Against Defendants

Securities Law Blog On August 9, 2014, the SEC announced that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee issued final SEC judgments against AIC, Inc., Community Bankers Securities, LLC, and Nicholas D. Skaltsounis and Relief… Read More

SEC Charges Julian Brown and Bahamian Brokerage Firm, Alliance Investment Management

Securities Law Blog On August, 8, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced charges against Julian Brown and his firm Alliance Investment Management Limited (AIM).  According to the SEC allegations, Julian Brown purported to be the “custodian”… Read More

Frank Speight and International Stock Transfer Charged

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On July 24, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the”SEC”) and Department of Justice announced charges against Frank-Speight (Cecil Franklin Speight) and his Florida-based transfer agent with defrauding investors by using aggressive boiler room tactics to… Read More

SEC Charges Investor Relations Provider, Kevin McGrath

Securities Law Blog On July 22, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) charged a partner at a New York-based investor relations firm with insider trading on confidential information he learned about two clients while he helped… Read More

SEC Charges Brokers and Codesmart Executive in Pump-And-Dump Scheme

On July 17, 2014, the SEC charged individuals who pocketed millions of dollars running an elaborate pump-and-dump scheme involving shares of a medical education company in Pennsylvania and two other microcap stocks. The SEC alleges that the stock… Read More

Five Charged with Attempted Manipulation of Amogear

Securities Lawyer 101 On July 14, 2014, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation today announced charges against five individuals whose attempt to manipulate shares of Boston-based Amogear Inc. was caught… Read More

SEC Obtains Judgment Against John Babikian

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On July 8, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced (“SEC”) announced a final judgment against defendant John Babikian in the Commission action styled, SEC v. John Babikian, Civil Action No. 14-CV-1740 (S.D.N.Y.).  The… Read More

Securities Lawyers Gone Wild – Todd Duckson

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Securities Lawyers Gone Wild – Marcus Luna

On June 27, 2014, the U.S. District Court of Nevada issued an order imposing sanctions against a securities attorney, Marcus Luna, three other individuals – Nathan Montgomery, Adam Daskivich, and David Murtha – and their businesses for their… Read More

SEC Charges 3 Regions Bank Executives

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On June 25, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced fraud charges against three former senior managers of Regions Bank for intentionally misclassifying loans that should have been recorded as impaired for… Read More

SEC Obtains Judgment Against Inofin Management By: Brenda Hamilton Attorney

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On May 28, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission ( “SEC”) announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered final judgment by consent against Inofin Inc.’s chief operating officer, Melissa George…. Read More

SEC Charges Neal V. Goyal in Ponzi Scheme By: Brenda Hamilton Attorney

Securities Lawyer Blog On May 28, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) obtained a court order freezing assets and halting a fraudulent scheme by Chicago, Illinois-based investment adviser, Neal V. Goyal. In its complaint, the SEC alleges… Read More

SEC Settles Charges in We the People Charity Fraud Case By: Brenda Hamilton Attorney

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog May 29, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that a Florida husband and wife were charged last year with defrauding seniors through a purported charitable organization and agreed to pay more than $2… Read More

SEC Charges Steven McCraw By: Brenda Hamilton Florida Attorney

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On May 30, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against Steven McCraw for aiding and abetting a fraudulent forex trading scheme.   The SEC alleges that McCraw knowingly or recklessly provided substantial assistance… Read More

Astrologer Stock Broker, Gurudeo Persaud, Barred by SEC

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On May 9, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) announced that public administrative proceedings were instituted pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Section 203(f) of… Read More

SEC Charges Barry Bekkedam In Connection with Banyon Fund – By: Brenda Hamilton

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has filed securities fraud charges against Barry Bekkedam of Hobe Sound, Florida.  Bekkedam is the former owner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Ballamor Capital Management, LLC (“Ballamor”), a formerly SEC-registered… Read More

SEC Charges Chris Choi & Poker Player Danny Kuo

On April 23, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission(“SEC”) filed insider trading charges against a former accounting manager at Nvidia Corp. who tipped a friend with confidential company information that set in motion a chain of tipping and illegal… Read More

SEC Charges Hedge Fund Manager

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On April 4, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit in United States District Court in Dallas, Texas, alleging that, from October 2009 to June 2012, Matthew D. Sample of San Diego, California… Read More

SEC Charges Joseph Signore in Ponzi Scheme

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On April 8, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced fraud charges and an asset freeze against the operators of a South Florida-based Ponzi scheme targeting investors through YouTube videos and selling them

SEC Charges Firm with Spoofing & Layering

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On April 4, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Joseph Holmdel and others, including a New Jersey based brokerage firm, with manipulative trading of publicly traded stocks through an illegal practice known as “layering”… Read More

SEC Charges Two Friends With Insider Trading of Chicago Bridge & Iron

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On April 4, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged two friends with insider trading on confidential information from an investment banker about an impending transaction between engineering and construction companies.

SEC Charges L&L Energy and Its Managment

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On March 27, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced fraud charges against a Seattle-headquartered coal company, L&L Energy, and its founder for making false disclosures about who was running the company.

SEC Obtains Summary Judgment Against StratoComm Penny Stock Defendants

Securities Lawyer 101 Blog On February 19, 2014, the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in Albany, New York granted the Securities and Exchange Commission’s motion for summary judgment on liability against all… Read More