Securities Industry Commentator by Bill Singer Esq WEEK IN REVIEW

May 21, 2022


5Cir Issues Historic Rebuke Of SEC ALJ System (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)

SEC Charges Wells Fargo Advisors With Anti-Money Laundering Related Violations (SEC Release)

Tequila Entrepreneur Sentenced To Prison For Securities Fraud (DOJ Release)

Brazilian National Pleads Guilty in Nationwide Fraud that Exploited App-Based Food Delivery Customers During Pandemic (DOJ Release)

Austin Man Sentenced for Hotel Investment Fraud Scheme (DOJ Release)

SEC Charges Charlotte, North Carolina Business Consultant and His Company with Operating $7 Million Ponzi Scheme (SEC Release)

SEC Obtains Final Judgments Against Defendants in Fraudulent ICO Scheme (SEC Release)

SEC Awards $16,000 to Whistleblower Claimant 
Order Determining Whistleblower Award Claims

CFTC Charges Oregon and Illinois Residents and Florida Company in $44 Million Misappropriation in Ongoing Digital Asset and Commodity Futures Fraud / Court Issues Restraining Order that Freezes Assets, Preserves Documents and Appoints Receiver (CFTC Release)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for OBAs
In the Matter of William T. Hobdy, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Former Morgan Stanley Rep For Putting Compliance Cart After the Horse (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)

Edward Jones Sued for $15 Million Over Book of Business (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)


FINRA Fines and Suspends Former Morgan Stanley Rep For Putting Compliance Cart After the Horse (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)

Three Portfolio Managers and Allianz Global Investors U.S. Charged in Connection with Multibillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme / Gregoire Tournant, Chief Investment Officer of Allianz Global Investors U.S.'s Structured Products Group, and Two Others Charged with Fraud Offenses / Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC Also Charged with Securities Fraud, Agrees to Plead Guilty (DOJ Release)

SEC Charges Allianz Global Investors and Three Former Senior Portfolio Managers with Multibillion Dollar Securities Fraud / Allianz Global Investors Agrees to Pay More Than $1 Billion to Resolve SEC Charges (SEC Release)

SEC Obtains Judgment Against Attorney Charged with Assisting Microcap Fraud Scheme (SEC Release)

Court Enters Final Judgment Against Investment Adviser COO (SEC Release)

CFTC Charges Florida Man and His Two Entities for Operating a $3.4 Million Commodity Futures Fraud (CFTC Release)

Investor Protection in a Digital Age," Remarks Before the 2022 NASAA Spring Meeting & Public Policy Symposium by Chair Gary Gensler

Testimony at Hearing before the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government U.S. House Appropriations Committee by SEC Chair Gary Gensler

Nominee for Upcoming FINRA Board of Governors Election / Petitions for Candidacy Due: Thursday, June 30, 2022 (FINRA Election Notice)

FINRA Annual Conference: Fireside Chat with Eileen Murray / May 17, 2022

Edward Jones Sued for $15 Million Over Book of Business (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)


Edward Jones Sued for $15 Million Over Book of Business (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)

SEC Charges Allianz Global Investors and Three Former Senior Portfolio Managers with Multibillion Dollar Securities Fraud / Allianz Global Investors Agrees to Pay More Than $1 Billion to Resolve SEC Charges (SEC Release)

Hacker and Ransomware Designer Charged for Use and Sale of Ransomware, and Profit Sharing Arrangements with Cybercriminals / Defendant, a Doctor, Designed Software With "Doomsday Counter," Shared in Profits from Ransomware Attacks, and Bragged about Use by Iranian State-Sponsored Hacking Group (DOJ Release)

Belgian and Lebanese National Convicted of Wire Fraud and Money Laundering (DOJ Release)

SEC Obtains Emergency Relief to Halt Pre-IPO Stock Fraud Scheme by Unregistered Broker-Dealer / Defendants, including persons barred from the brokerage industry, allegedly sold shares they didn't own, and pocketed more than $75 million (SEC Release)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for Private Securities Transactions
In the Matter of Sanjay Bhargava, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

Investor Protection in a Digital Age," Remarks Before the 2022 NASAA Spring Meeting & Public Policy Symposium by Chair Gary Gensler

FINRA Annual Conference: Fireside Chat with Eileen Murray / May 17, 2022


SEC Obtains Emergency Relief to Halt Pre-IPO Stock Fraud Scheme by Unregistered Broker-Dealer / Defendants, including persons barred from the brokerage industry, allegedly sold shares they didn't own, and pocketed more than $75 million (SEC Release)

January 2021 Short Squeeze Trading Litigation (Order, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 21-MD-02989 / May 13, 2022)

Man Pleads Guilty to Multimillion Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme Involving Professional Athletes and PPP Loan Fraud (DOJ Release)

CEO Of Private Equity Fund Sentenced To 97 Months For $133 Million Bank And Securities Fraud Scheme (DOJ Release)

Maryland Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Stealing Over $120,000 From Bank Customer Accounts / Bank Detected Fraud Before Even More Money Was Stolen (DOJ Release)

CEO Of Cryptocurrency And Forex Trading Platform Charged With Fraudulent Scheme Involving Over $59 Million (DOJ Release)

CFTC Charges Long Island Resident and His Firm in Ongoing $59 Million Fraud Scheme (CFTC Release)

CFTC Settles Enforcement Action Against Kraft and Mondelēz (CFTC Release)

FINRA Censures and Fines Firm for Belated Private Placement Filings
In the Matter of Spire Securities, LLC, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Censures and Fines Firm for OBA, PST, and FinCEN Issues
In the Matter of Roselaine Securities LLC, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for Two OBAs
In the Matter of  Patrick Richard Daley, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for Excessive Trading
In the Matter of Ian P. Lowrey, Respondent (FINRA AWC)