FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SEC Charges Thought Development, Inc. and its Owner with Securities Registration Violations
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil injunctive action on September 26, 2013, charging Thought Development, Inc. (TDI) and its founder and chairman Alan Amron with violations Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the offer and sale of unregistered TDI stock. Without admitting or denying the allegations, the defendants offered to settle all charges and agree to full injunctive relief, and as to Amron, the payment of a $10,000 civil penalty.
According to the SEC’s complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that, between approximately October 2010 until at least February 2012, TDI and Amron directly, and through of an unaffiliated company, offered and or sold unregistered offerings of TDI to at least 90 investors located throughout the United States.
The complaint also alleges that no registration statement was filed or in effect with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to TDI stock and no exemption from registration existed with respect to these securities. In addition, TDI and Amron sold stock to investors without inquiring or obtaining information as to whether they were qualified as accredited investors. Some of these investors were, in fact, unaccredited.
The SEC’s investigation, which is continuing, has been conducted by Kevin B. Hart and Fernando Torres in the Miami office, and supervised by Jason R. Berkowitz.
Showing posts with label INC.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label INC.. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
SEC OBTAINS FINAL JUDGMENTS IN $415 MILLION PONZI SCHEME
FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SEC Obtains Final Judgments Against Martin C. Hartmann III and Laura Ann Tordy
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that on July 9, 2013, the Honorable Denis R. Hurley of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered final judgments against defendants Martin C. Hartmann III and Laura Ann Tordy, sales agents for Agape World, Inc. (“Agape”), an offering fraud and Ponzi scheme that raised $415 million from at least 5,000 investors nationwide.
The final judgment as to Hartmann permanently enjoins Hartmann from violating Sections 5 and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and requires him to pay $3,591,388 in disgorgement, $560,932 in prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty of $3,594,818. The final judgment as to Tordy permanently enjoins Tordy from violating the same provisions of the federal securities laws as Hartmann, and requires her to pay $1,048,485 in disgorgement, $163,761 in prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty of $1,048,485.
In its complaint, the Commission alleged that Hartmann worked as a sales agent for Agape from at least September 2006 to January 2009 and Tordy worked as a sales agent for Agape from at least February 2007 to January 2009. The complaint alleges Hartmann and Tordy each made misrepresentations to investors concerning the Agape investments they sold and sold the Agape investments despite the incredible returns promised by Agape, their knowledge of previous defaults by Agape, and dire warnings from Agape’s president about Agape’s financial condition. The complaint further alleged the Agape investments were a sham with, at best, a small fraction of investor funds used as represented; the Agape investments were neither registered with the Commission nor exempt from registration; and, neither Hartmann nor Tordy was associated with a registered broker or dealer while selling them.
The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
SEC Obtains Final Judgments Against Martin C. Hartmann III and Laura Ann Tordy
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that on July 9, 2013, the Honorable Denis R. Hurley of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered final judgments against defendants Martin C. Hartmann III and Laura Ann Tordy, sales agents for Agape World, Inc. (“Agape”), an offering fraud and Ponzi scheme that raised $415 million from at least 5,000 investors nationwide.
The final judgment as to Hartmann permanently enjoins Hartmann from violating Sections 5 and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and requires him to pay $3,591,388 in disgorgement, $560,932 in prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty of $3,594,818. The final judgment as to Tordy permanently enjoins Tordy from violating the same provisions of the federal securities laws as Hartmann, and requires her to pay $1,048,485 in disgorgement, $163,761 in prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty of $1,048,485.
In its complaint, the Commission alleged that Hartmann worked as a sales agent for Agape from at least September 2006 to January 2009 and Tordy worked as a sales agent for Agape from at least February 2007 to January 2009. The complaint alleges Hartmann and Tordy each made misrepresentations to investors concerning the Agape investments they sold and sold the Agape investments despite the incredible returns promised by Agape, their knowledge of previous defaults by Agape, and dire warnings from Agape’s president about Agape’s financial condition. The complaint further alleged the Agape investments were a sham with, at best, a small fraction of investor funds used as represented; the Agape investments were neither registered with the Commission nor exempt from registration; and, neither Hartmann nor Tordy was associated with a registered broker or dealer while selling them.
The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
BP TEMPORAILY SUSPENDED FROM RECEIVING NEW U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
BP Temporarily Suspended from New Contracts with the Federal Government
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has temporarily suspended BP Exploration and Production, Inc., BP PLC and named affiliated companies (BP) from new contracts with the federal government. EPA is taking this action due to BP’s lack of business integrity as demonstrated by the company's conduct with regard to the Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response, as reflected by the filing of a criminal information. On November 15, 2012, BP agreed to plead guilty to eleven counts of Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Officers, one count of Obstruction of Congress, one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Clean Water Act, and one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all arising from its conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
For the Deepwater Horizon investigation, EPA was designated as the lead agency for suspension and debarment actions. Federal executive branch agencies take these actions to ensure the integrity of Federal programs by conducting business only with responsible individuals or companies. Suspensions are a standard practice when a responsibility question is raised by action in a criminal case.
The BP suspension will temporarily prevent the company and the named affiliates from getting new federal government contracts, grants or other covered transactions until the company can provide sufficient evidence to EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards. The suspension does not affect existing agreements BP may have with the government.
BP Temporarily Suspended from New Contracts with the Federal Government
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has temporarily suspended BP Exploration and Production, Inc., BP PLC and named affiliated companies (BP) from new contracts with the federal government. EPA is taking this action due to BP’s lack of business integrity as demonstrated by the company's conduct with regard to the Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response, as reflected by the filing of a criminal information. On November 15, 2012, BP agreed to plead guilty to eleven counts of Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Officers, one count of Obstruction of Congress, one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Clean Water Act, and one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all arising from its conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
For the Deepwater Horizon investigation, EPA was designated as the lead agency for suspension and debarment actions. Federal executive branch agencies take these actions to ensure the integrity of Federal programs by conducting business only with responsible individuals or companies. Suspensions are a standard practice when a responsibility question is raised by action in a criminal case.
The BP suspension will temporarily prevent the company and the named affiliates from getting new federal government contracts, grants or other covered transactions until the company can provide sufficient evidence to EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards. The suspension does not affect existing agreements BP may have with the government.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
U.S. GOVERNMENT SUSPENDS FUTURE CONTRACTS FOR BP EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, INC.
FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
BP Temporarily Suspended from New Contracts with the Federal Government
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has temporarily suspended BP Exploration and Production, Inc., BP PLC and named affiliated companies (BP) from new contracts with the federal government. EPA is taking this action due to BP’s lack of business integrity as demonstrated by the company's conduct with regard to the Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response, as reflected by the filing of a criminal information. On November 15, 2012, BP agreed to plead guilty to eleven counts of Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Officers, one count of Obstruction of Congress, one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Clean Water Act, and one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all arising from its conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
For the Deepwater Horizon investigation, EPA was designated as the lead agency for suspension and debarment actions. Federal executive branch agencies take these actions to ensure the integrity of Federal programs by conducting business only with responsible individuals or companies. Suspensions are a standard practice when a responsibility question is raised by action in a criminal case.
The BP suspension will temporarily prevent the company and the named affiliates from getting new federal government contracts, grants or other covered transactions until the company can provide sufficient evidence to EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards. The suspension does not affect existing agreements BP may have with the government.
BP Temporarily Suspended from New Contracts with the Federal Government
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has temporarily suspended BP Exploration and Production, Inc., BP PLC and named affiliated companies (BP) from new contracts with the federal government. EPA is taking this action due to BP’s lack of business integrity as demonstrated by the company's conduct with regard to the Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response, as reflected by the filing of a criminal information. On November 15, 2012, BP agreed to plead guilty to eleven counts of Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Officers, one count of Obstruction of Congress, one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Clean Water Act, and one misdemeanor count of a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all arising from its conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.
For the Deepwater Horizon investigation, EPA was designated as the lead agency for suspension and debarment actions. Federal executive branch agencies take these actions to ensure the integrity of Federal programs by conducting business only with responsible individuals or companies. Suspensions are a standard practice when a responsibility question is raised by action in a criminal case.
The BP suspension will temporarily prevent the company and the named affiliates from getting new federal government contracts, grants or other covered transactions until the company can provide sufficient evidence to EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards. The suspension does not affect existing agreements BP may have with the government.
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