The SEC has obtained a temporary asset freeze, restraining order, and other emergency relief against Digital Licensing Inc., doing business as DEBT Box, and 18 other defendants in connection with a fraudulent scheme to sell crypto asset securities to hundreds of U.S. investors that raised approximately $50 million and unspecified […]
Enforcement
SEC Charges Florida Investment Adviser a Second Time for Insider Trading
Agrees to pay a penalty equal to three times his unlawful profits to settle charges Introduction The SEC filed a complaint against Charles Rustin Holzer, a former broker and family office executive. This comes after Holzer settled charges by the SEC last year related to his trading in options of […]
SEC Charges Samuel Masucci for Misleading ETF and Obtaining Rescue Financing
Introduction On August 1, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought charges against Samuel Masucci and entities under his control for allegedly disadvantaging an exchange-traded fund (ETF) they managed and misleading the ETF’s trustees to secure $20 million in rescue financing, thereby avoiding potential bankruptcy. As a result of […]
Eddy Alexandre, CEO Of EminiFX Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison For $240 Million Scheme To Defraud Investors
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that EDDY ALEXANDRE was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan to nine years in prison for engaging in commodities fraud. ALEXANDRE was the leader of a purported cryptocurrency and foreign exchange (“forex”) trading […]
SEC Charges Florida Resident with Operating $35 Million Ponzi Scheme that Targeted Church Members
The SEC charged Brent Seaman of Naples, Florida, with fraudulently raising approximately $35 million from at least 60 investors through an unregistered securities offering. According to the SEC, Seaman told investors he would use their money to invest in technology companies and to trade currencies and commodities, but instead, he […]
SEC Charges Celsius Network Limited and Founder Alex Mashinsky with Fraud and Unregistered Offer and Sale of Securities
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 […]
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 […]