SEC ANNOUNCES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN 2013 RESULTED IN RECORD $3.4 BILLION IN SANCTIONS

FROM:  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that the agency’s enforcement actions in fiscal year 2013 resulted in a record $3.4 billion in monetary sanctions ordered against wrongdoers.

The SEC filed 686 enforcement actions in the fiscal year that ended in September.  The $3.4 billion in disgorgement and penalties resulting from those actions is 10 percent higher than FY 2012 and 22 percent higher than FY 2011, when the SEC filed the most actions in agency history.

“A strong enforcement program helps produce financial markets that operate with integrity and transparency, and reassures investors that they can invest with confidence,” said Mary Jo White, Chair of the SEC.  “I am incredibly proud of the dedicated and talented women and men of the Enforcement Division.  Our results show that we are prepared to tackle the breadth and complexity of today’s securities markets.”

George S. Canellos, co-director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said, “We are focused on addressing wrongdoing in all corners of the financial industry.  Going forward, we will continue to be aggressive but fair in our pursuit of those who violate the securities laws.”

Andrew J. Ceresney, co-director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, added, “Numbers tell only a part of the story as we look to bring high-quality enforcement actions that make an impact across the market.  We are proud of the terrific results achieved by our hardworking and committed staff and pleased with the strong and robust pipeline of investigations they’ve developed for the year ahead.”

SEC Enforcement in Fiscal Year 2013

Market Structure and Exchanges – The SEC brought several significant actions against stock exchanges and other market participants on issues relating to market structure and fair market access.  The SEC obtained its largest-ever penalty against an exchange when NASDAQ agreed to pay a $10 million penalty for its poor systems and decision-making during the Facebook IPO. FY 2013 also included the SEC’s first penalty against an exchange for violations relating to regulatory oversight when the agency charged the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and an affiliate for various systemic breakdowns.

Gatekeepers – The SEC is focused on holding accountable accountants, attorneys, and others who have special duties to ensure that the interests of investors are safeguarded.  Among actions against auditors, the SEC charged the Chinese affiliates of major accounting firms for refusing to produce documents related to China-based companies being investigated.  And the SEC charged trustees and directors for failing to uphold their responsibilities under the securities laws.

Insider Trading – Continuing its pursuit of those who unlawfully trade on material, nonpublic information, the SEC filed multiple actions alleging wrongdoing at S.A.C. Capital Advisors and its affiliates, including an action against Steven Cohen for failing to supervise two senior employees and prevent them from insider trading under his watch.

Municipal Securities – The SEC increased its attention to securities violations by municipalities and other participants in the market for securities of cities and other governmental issuers.

Financial Crisis Enforcement Actions – With several more enforcement cases in FY 2013 against individuals and entities whose actions contributed to the financial crisis, the SEC has now filed enforcement actions against 169 individuals and entities arising from the financial crisis resulting in more than $3 billion in disgorgement, penalties, and other monetary relief for the benefit of harmed investors.  The individuals charged include 70 CEOs, CFOs, or other senior executives.


New Admissions Policy – The SEC changed its longstanding settlement policy and now requires admissions of misconduct in a discrete category of cases where heightened accountability and acceptance of responsibility by a defendant are appropriate and in the public interest.  The first settlements under the new policy came in actions against Philip A. Falcone and his firm Harbinger Capital Partners, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Going to Trial – The SEC continued to aggressively deploy litigation resources to maximize the deterrent impact of enforcement actions.  One successful example in FY 2013 is the favorable verdict obtained at trial against former Goldman Sachs Vice President Fabrice Tourre, who was found liable for his role in marketing a CDO.  The SEC also obtained a favorable decision after a lengthy trial against optionsXpress and two individuals for engaging in sham transactions to give the illusion of compliance with Reg SHO.

Whistleblower Tips – The SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower received 3,238 tips in the past year and paid more than $14 million to whistleblowers whose information substantially advanced enforcement actions.

New Forward-Looking Initiatives

New Task Forces – The Financial Reporting and Audit (FRAud) Task Force was created to improve the Enforcement Division’s ability to detect and prevent financial statement and other accounting frauds.  The new Microcap Task Force brings additional resources and analytical expertise to address fraud in the microcap markets and target gatekeepers.

Consolidated Short Selling Charges – The SEC will continue to conduct streamlined investigations to crack down on violators of Rule 105 of Regulation M.  The SEC recently announced actions against 23 firms that resulted in $14.4 million in monetary sanctions.

A Strong Pipeline – The Enforcement Division headed into the next fiscal year well positioned for significant achievements across its program, having opened 908 investigations last year (up 13 percent) and obtained 574 formal orders of investigation (up 20 percent).

Technology Improvements – The Enforcement Division significantly improved its analytical capabilities, including those for forensics analysis and for reviewing and analyzing high volumes of electronic documents.  A Center for Risk and Quantitative Analytics was created to coordinate and enhance risk identification, risk assessment, and data analytic activities

FINAL JUDGEMENT AGAINST RELIEF DEFENDANT LANEXA MANAGEMENT LLC

The following excerpt is from the SEC website:
March 19, 2012
Lanexa Management LLC Agrees Disgorge $746,797 in Insider Trading Profits
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that on March 16, 2012, The Honorable Richard J. Sullivan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, entered a final judgment against Relief Defendant Lanexa Management, LLC in SEC v. Thomas C. Hardin and Lanexa Management, LLC, 10-CV-8599, an insider trading case the SEC originally filed on November 12, 2010. See Lit. Rel. No. 21741 (Nov. 15, 2010). As alleged in the SEC’s amended complaint, filed on March 16, 2012, Defendant Thomas C. Hardin, a former managing director at Lanexa Management, engaged in insider trading on behalf of a Lanexa hedge fund ahead of the announced acquisition of 3Com Corp. in September 2007, resulting in more than $600,000 in illegal trading profits.

The SEC’s amended complaint alleged that Arthur Cutillo and Brien Santarlas, two former attorneys with the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, misappropriated from their law firm material nonpublic information concerning the acquisition of 3Com, and tipped the inside information, through another attorney, to Zvi Goffer, a former proprietary trader at Schottenfeld Group LLC, in exchange for kickbacks. The SEC further alleged that Goffer tipped the inside information to, among others, Gautham Shankar, a fellow proprietary trader at Schottenfeld, who then tipped Hardin, a managing director at Lanexa. As alleged in the amended complaint, Hardin used the inside information to trade in the securities of 3Com on behalf of a Lanexa hedge fund.

To settle the SEC’s action, Lanexa agreed to a final judgment ordering it, as a relief defendant, to disgorge $612,190 in illicit trading profits, plus prejudgment interest of $134,607. Hardin previously consented to a judgment in this case and pled guilty to charges of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud in a related criminal case, United States v. Thomas Hardin, 10-CR-339 (S.D.N.Y.). See Lit. Rel. No. 21999 (June 14, 2011).

MAN MAKES OVER $1.2 MILLION IN ALLEGED UNREGISTERED SECURITES BUT, SEC SEEKS DISGORGEMENT

The following excerpt is from the SEC website: November 23, 2011 “The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil injunctive action against Myron Weiner, relating to his unregistered sale of shares of Spongetech Delivery Systems, Inc. (“Spongetech”) in 2009. In its complaint, the Commission alleges that Weiner purchased the shares from a Spongetech affiliate at a discounted price of 5 cents, and then sold the shares into the public market less than three months later for 20 cents, for a profit of $1,215,057. The Commission’s complaint alleges that Weiner’s sales were not registered with the Commission, and no exemption from the registration requirements of the federal securities laws applied. The Commission’s complaint seeks a final judgment: (1) enjoining Weiner from violating Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 (registration provisions); (2) requiring the payment of disgorgement of $1,215,057, plus prejudgment interest of $80,135; (3) requiring payment of a civil penalty of $50,000; and (5) barring Weiner for one year from participating in the offering of any penny stock. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York filed a related forfeiture action. The Commission wishes to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service for their assistance in connection with this matter.”