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This is a photo of the National Register of Historic Places listing with reference number 7000063

Sunday, October 23, 2011

PENALTIES ASSIGNED BY JUDGE IN FRAUD CASE

The following excerpt is from the SEC website: October 17, 2011 The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on October 14, 2011, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a final judgment against Daniel W. Nodurft permanently restraining and enjoining him from future violation of Section 5 and Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”). The Court also ordered Nodurft to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $50,000. The Commission’s complaint alleged that Nodurft, a resident of Louisiana and the former vice-president and general counsel of Aerokinetic Energy Corporation (“Aerokinetic”), a Sarasota-based company purportedly in the business of developing and marketing alternative power technologies and products, violated the registration and antifraud provisions of the securities laws in connection with Aerokinetic’s fraudulent unregistered securities offering. On July 24, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a temporary restraining order against Aerokinetic and its then president, Randolph E. Bridwell in a related case (Securities and Exchange Commission v. Aerokinetic Energy Corporation, Case No. 8:08-cv-1409-T27TGW). On January 19, 2011, the Court entered a final judgment against Aerokinetic and Bridwell imposing disgorgement of ill-gotten proceeds, jointly and severally, in the amount of $555,000, plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $59,571.09. Additionally, Aerokinetic and Bridwell were ordered to pay civil penalties of $250,000 and $130,000, respectively. Aerokinetic’s judgment was upheld on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.”

Friday, October 21, 2011

FDIC APPOINTED RECEIVER FOR COMMUNITY CAPITAL BANK, JONESBORO, GEORGIA

The following excerpt is from an e-mail sent out by the FDIC: October 21, 2011 “Community Capital Bank, Jonesboro, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with State Bank and Trust Company, Macon, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of Community Capital Bank. The two branches of Community Capital Bank will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of State Bank and Trust Company. Depositors of Community Capital Bank will automatically become depositors of State Bank and Trust Company. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Community Capital Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from State Bank and Trust Company that it has completed systems changes to allow other State Bank and Trust Company branches to process their accounts as well. This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Community Capital Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual. As of June 30, 2011, Community Capital Bank had approximately $181.2 million in total assets and $166.2 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, State Bank and Trust Company agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets. The FDIC and State Bank and Trust Company entered into a loss-share transaction on $141.3 million of Community Capital Bank's assets. State Bank and Trust Company will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html. Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-357-7599. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/commcapbk.html. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $62.0 million. Compared to other alternatives, State Bank and Trust Company's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Community Capital Bank is the 83rd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the twenty-second in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Decatur First Bank, Decatur, earlier today.”

FDIC APPOINTED RECEIVER FOR DECATUR FIRST BANK, DEATUR, GEORGIA

The following excerpt is from an e-mail sent out by the FDIC: October 21, 2011 “Decatur First Bank, Decatur, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Fidelity Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of Decatur First Bank. The five branches of Decatur First Bank will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of Fidelity Bank. Depositors of Decatur First Bank will automatically become depositors of Fidelity Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Decatur First Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Fidelity Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Fidelity Bank branches to process their accounts as well. This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Decatur First Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual. As of June 30, 2011, Decatur First Bank had approximately $191.5 million in total assets and $179.2 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Fidelity Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets. The FDIC and Fidelity Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $111.5 million of Decatur First Bank's assets. Fidelity Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html. Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-430-7974. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/decatur.html. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $32.6 million. Compared to other alternatives, Fidelity Bank's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Decatur First Bank is the 82nd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the twenty-first in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Piedmont Community Bank, Gray, on October 14, 2011.”

FDIC APPOINTED RECEIVER FOR OLD HARBOR BANK, CLEARWATER, FLORIDA

The following excerpt is from an e-mail sent out by the FDIC: October 21, 2011 “Old Harbor Bank, Clearwater, Florida, was closed today by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with 1st United Bank, Boca Raton, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of Old Harbor Bank. The seven branches of Old Harbor Bank will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of 1st United Bank. Depositors of Old Harbor Bank will automatically become depositors of 1st United Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Old Harbor Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from 1st United Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other 1st United Bank branches to process their accounts as well. This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Old Harbor Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual. As of June 30, 2011, Old Harbor Bank had approximately $215.9 million in total assets and $217.8 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, 1st United Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets. The FDIC and 1st United Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $155.6 million of Old Harbor Bank's assets. 1st United Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html. Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-405-1498. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/oldharbor.html. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $39.3 million. Compared to other alternatives, 1st United Bank's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Old Harbor Bank is the 81st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the twelfth in Florida. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was The First National Bank of Florida, Milton, on September 9, 2011.”

FDIC APPOINTED RECEIVER FOR COMMUNITY BANKS OF COLORADO

The following excerpt is from an e-mail sent out by the FDIC: October 21, 2011 "The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today was appointed receiver for Community Banks of Colorado, Greenwood, Colorado, by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Bank Midwest, National Association, Kansas City, Missouri, to assume all of the deposits of Community Banks of Colorado. The 40 branches of Community Banks of Colorado will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of Bank Midwest, National Association. Depositors of Community Banks of Colorado will automatically become depositors of Bank Midwest, National Association. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Community Banks of Colorado should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Bank Midwest, National Association that it has completed systems changes to allow other Bank Midwest, National Association branches to process their accounts as well. This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Community Banks of Colorado can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual. As of June 30, 2011, Community Banks of Colorado had approximately $1.38 billion in total assets and $1.33 billion in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Bank Midwest, National Association agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets. The FDIC and Bank Midwest, National Association entered into a loss-share transaction on $714.2 million of Community Banks of Colorado's assets. Bank Midwest, National Association will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html. Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-405-1439. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time (MDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., MDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., MDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., MDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/commbanksco.html. The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $224.9 million. Compared to other alternatives, Bank Midwest, National Association's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Community Banks of Colorado is the 84th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the sixth in Colorado. The last FDIC-insured institution in the state for which the FDIC was named receiver was Bank of Choice, Greeley, on July 22, 2011."

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FILED BY SEC IN MARINER ENERGY INC. INSIDER TRADING CASE

The following excerpt is from the SEC website: “Washington, D.C., Oct. 21, 2011 – The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced additional charges in its insider trading case against Denver-based traders who traded on confidential information in the securities of Mariner Energy Inc. ahead of the oil and gas company’s $3.9 billion takeover by Apache Corporation in April 2010. In its initial complaint filed on Aug. 5, 2011, the SEC alleged that Mariner Energy board member H. Clayton Peterson tipped his son with confidential details about Mariner Energy’s upcoming acquisition. Drew Clayton Peterson, who was a managing director at a Denver-based investment adviser, then used the inside information to purchase Mariner Energy stock for himself and others. An amended complaint filed today adds two more defendants to the case – money manager Drew K. Brownstein who is a longtime friend of Drew Peterson, and the hedge fund advisory firm he controls, Big 5 Asset Management LLC. The SEC alleges that Brownstein traded Mariner Energy securities on the basis of inside information he received from Drew Peterson and reaped illicit profits of more than $5 million combined in his own account, the accounts of his relatives, and the accounts of two hedge funds managed by Big 5. “This case is further evidence of the pervasive nature of insider trading by hedge funds, and a sobering reminder that such conduct is not limited to the immediate vicinity of Wall Street but is taking place in cities around the country,” said Sanjay Wadhwa, Deputy Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s Market Abuse Unit and Associate Director of the New York Regional Office. “The SEC is firmly committed to rooting out this illegal activity wherever it occurs, and those who engage in this conduct should consider the severe consequences they will face when caught.” According to the SEC’s amended complaint, Drew Peterson repeatedly tipped Brownstein about the impending acquisition of Mariner Energy as he learned the information from his father. Brownstein caused two Big 5 hedge funds – the Lion Global Fund LLLP and the Lion Global Master Fund Ltd. – to purchase large quantities of Mariner Energy stock and call option contracts on the basis of the inside information. This was the first time that the Big 5 hedge funds had ever traded Mariner Energy stock or options. Brownstein also purchased thousands of shares of Mariner Energy stock and call option contracts for the accounts of his relatives and for his personal brokerage account. In the days following the announcement of the deal, Brownstein liquidated the positions he had accumulated in Mariner Energy securities. The SEC’s amended complaint charges each of the defendants with violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks a final judgment permanently enjoining them from future violations of the above provisions of the federal securities laws, ordering them to disgorge their ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, and ordering them to pay financial penalties. The SEC also seeks to permanently prohibit Clayton Peterson from acting as an officer or director of any publicly registered company. The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Joseph Sansone, a member of the SEC’s Market Abuse Unit in New York, with assistance from Neil Hendelman of the New York Regional Office and Jay Scoggins, Jeffrey Oraker, Bruce Ketter and Craig Ellis of the Denver Regional Office. The SEC acknowledges the ongoing assistance and cooperation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The SEC’s investigation is continuing“.