On July 13, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Celsius Network Limited (Celsius) and its founder and former CEO, Alex Mashinsky, with violating registration and anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The SEC alleged that Celsius failed to register the offers and sales of its crypto lending […]
Enforcement
SEC Charges Merrill Lynch and Parent Company for Failing to File Suspicious Activity Reports
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and its parent company BAC North America Holding Co. (BACNAH) for failing to file hundreds of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) from 2009 to late 2019. Merrill Lynch agreed to pay a $6 million penalty […]
SEC Adopts Money Market Fund Reforms and Amendments to Form PF Reporting Requirements for Large Liquidity Fund Advisers
July 12, 2023 – The SEC today adopted amendments to certain rules that govern money market funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The amendments are designed to enhance the resilience and transparency of money market funds, particularly during periods of market stress. Significant Changes One of the key […]
SEC Charges Two Oregon Residents with $10 Million Ponzi-Like Scheme
Introduction The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken action against Robert D. Christensen and Anthony M. Matic, along with their affiliated companies, for orchestrating a Ponzi-like scheme and defrauding investors who invested over $10 million in promissory notes. This article provides an overview of the case and highlights the […]
SEC Obtains Emergency Relief to Halt Pre-IPO Stock Fraud Scheme by Unregistered Broker-Dealer
SEC Obtains Preliminary Injunction and Asset Freeze Against Legend Venture Partners Introduction In a significant development, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken decisive action against Legend Venture Partners LLC, an unregistered broker-dealer based in New York City. The SEC’s move comes in response to the discovery of a […]
SEC Charges Convicted Fraudster in Real Estate Ponzi Scheme
Wilson Baston has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for defrauding investors through a Ponzi scheme. Learn more here. #securitiesfraud
SEC Charges Investment Fund Founder William K. Ichioka with $25 Million Offering Fraud
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, against William K. Ichioka, a resident of New York, New York, for engaging in a fraudulent investment scheme. The complaint alleges that Ichioka targeted individual investors primarily in […]
SEC Charges Audit Firm Marcum LLP for Widespread Quality Control Deficiencies
Marcum LLP Faces SEC Charges for Audit Quality Control Failures In a significant development, audit firm Marcum LLP has come under scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its systemic quality control failures and violations of audit standards. The charges are particularly related to its audit work for […]
SEC Charges Investment Adviser and Principal in Abusive Naked Short Selling Scheme
The SEC has charged Sabby Management and its managing partner with fraud in a scheme involving misrepresentations and rule violations for short selling. Learn more here.
SEC Halts Alleged Cannabis Fraud Scheme
The SEC obtained an emergency order to halt an alleged ongoing offering fraud and Ponzi-like scheme by Integrated National Resources Inc. (INR), which does business as WeedGenics, and its owners, Rolf Max Hirschmann and Patrick Earl Williams. The SEC alleges that INR raised more than $60 million from investors to […]