Securities Industry Commentator by Bill Singer Esq WEEK IN REVIEW

June 24, 2023

SCOTUS Says District Court Must Stay Proceeding During Arbitration Appeals (SCOTUS Opinion)
Coinbase, Inc., Petitioner, v. Agraham Bielski (SCOTUS Opinion, No.22-105,  599 U.S. __ )2023))

Federal Court Sanctions Lawyers for ChatGPT Use
Roberto Mata, Plaintiff, v. Avianca, Inc., Defendant (Opinion and Order on Sanctions, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 22-CV-1461)

Court Denies Vacatur of Over $2 Million FINRA Arbitration Award Involving Disputed Customer Transfer and Asset Purchase Agreement (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)

The Financial Professionals Coalition, Ltd. Launches "Marketplace"

Digital Asset Platform EDX Markets Begins Trading and Completes New Funding Round (Businesswire)

DOJ RELEASES

New York Man Agrees To Plead Guilty To Multiple Federal Crimes Related To “Ichioka Ventures” Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme / Defendant Admits Doctoring Financial Documents, Giving False Account Statements To Investors, And Diverting Investor Funds For His Personal Luxuries (DOJ Release)

Belle Vernon Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud (DOJ Release)

Four Indicted For $17 Million Bank Fraud Scheme (DOJ Release)

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter Delivers Keynote Address at the Brookings Institution’s Center on Regulation and Markets Event “Promoting Competition in Banking”

SEC RELEASES

SEC Charges Investment Fund Founder William K. Ichioka with $25 Million Offering Fraud (SEC Release)

SEC Imposes Cease-and-Desist, Censure, and $4 million Penalty on JPMorgan for Deletion of 47 Million Electronic Communications
In the Matter of J. P. Morgan Securities LLC, Respondent (SEC Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings)

Former Goldman Sachs Investment Banker Convicted At Trial Of Insider Trading Scheme And Obstruction Of Justice / Defendant Brijesh Goel Stole Non-Public Information and Tipped His Trading Friend (SEC Release)

SEC Charges Audit Firm Marcum LLP for Widespread Quality Control Deficiencies (SEC Release)

SEC Charges Private Equity Fund Adviser for Overcharging Fees and Failing To Disclose Fee Calculation Conflict (SEC Release)

SEC Charges Stanley Black & Decker and Former Executive for Failures in Executive Perks Disclosure (SEC Release)

PENNYSTOCK BARS

Perpetual Personal Penny Stock Prohibitions: Statement on the Recent Orders Imposing Bars in the Public Interest by SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce

Statement Concerning Certain IAC Recommendations by SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce

CFTC RELEASES

CFTC Charges New York Man with Misappropriating Over $21 Million in Commodity Pool Scheme / Federal Judge Issues Permanent Injunction and Orders Registration, Trading Bans (CFTC Release)

CFTC Charges California Resident and His Corporation with Fraud and Misappropriation in a Popular Romance Scam Involving Digital Asset Commodities and Forex (CFTC Release)

Federal Court Orders Florida Man to Pay Over $1 Million in Penalties for Fraudulent Solicitation and Misappropriation in a Commodity Pool Scheme (CFTC Release)

FINRA RELEASES 

FINRA Censures and Fines Evercore Group for Market Access Risk Management
In the Matter of Evercore Group L.L.C., Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Bars Vanguard Associate for Fabricating Copy of SIE Exam Results 
In the Matter of Richard M. Funderburk, Respondent (FINRA AWC)(FINRA AWC)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for Recommending Oil and Gas Limited Partnerships
In the Matter of Abbe Jan Wollins, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for Outside Business Activity of Subscription-Based Investment Content Provider
In the Matter of Jason K. Adams, Respondent (FINRA AWC)

FINRA Fines and Suspends Rep for Recommendations of Private Placements
In the Matter of Blake Adam Levy, Respondent (FINRA AWC)