ACI Optimistic for Growth Potential of USMJ, PURA and PJET from Federal Marijuana Legalization

Dallas (TX), March 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACI Conglomerated, the majority shareholder of North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: USMJ), Puration, Inc. (OTC Pink: PURA) and Priority Aviation, Inc. (OTC Pink: PJET) today expressed optimism for the potential impact of federal marijuana legalization on the three holdings. House lawmakers are expected to vote next week on the Marijuana...

Women’s History Month Event: SEC to Host Free Virtual Financial Fraud Webinar

Washington D.C. — On March 29, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET the Securities and Exchange Commission’s New York Regional Office, in coordination with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Tau Omega Chapter, will celebrate women’s history month with a free investor education panel discussion about staying safe from financial fraud. The panel will feature four women from the SEC’s New York...

SEC Proposes Amendments to Remove References to Credit Ratings from Regulation M

Washington D.C. — The Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to propose changes that would remove the references to credit rating agencies from existing exceptions provided in Rule 101 and Rule 102 of Regulation M, a set of rules designed to preserve market integrity by prohibiting activities that could artificially influence the market for an offered security. "In Section 939A...

FBI crime report released: Victims lost $6.9b to internet-enabled scams in 2021

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its annual report. The 2021 Internet Crime Report (pdf) includes information from 847,376 complaints of suspected internet crime—a 7% increase from 2020—and reported losses exceeding $6.9 billion. State-specific statistics have also been released and can be found within the 2021 Internet Crime Report and in the accompanying 2021 State Reports. The top three cyber crimes reported by...

FTC: Reports of romance scams hit record highs in 2021

Online dating can be a great way to find lasting love – or even your next fling. But reports to the FTC suggest it also creates opportunities for scammers. In the past five years, people have reported losing a staggering $1.3 billion to romance scams, more than any other FTC fraud category. The numbers have skyrocketed in recent years,...

SEC Proposes Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

Washington D.C., March 21, 2022 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed rule changes that would require registrants to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and periodic reports, including information about climate-related risks that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on their business, results of operations, or financial condition, and certain climate-related financial statement metrics...

DTLA residents arrested in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud scheme

Los Angeles – Two downtown Los Angeles residents were arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging they fraudulently obtained more than $300,000 – and attempted to obtain an additional $1 million – in COVID-relief loans for several companies they claimed to own and operate. Sean Schoepflin, 42, a.k.a. “Sean Fitzgerald,” and Erika Leon, 44, a.k.a. “Erika Fitzgerald,” are each charged...

SEC Issues Awards Totaling Approximately $3 Million to Three Whistleblowers

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Washington D.C. – The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced three awards totaling approximately $3 million to whistleblowers who provided information and assistance in three separate covered actions. In the first order, the SEC issued an award of approximately $1.5 million to a whistleblower who provided new information that caused the SEC staff to commence an examination and later open...

New York man defrauds thousands of consumers in direct-mail cash prize scheme

Three Defendants Have Pleaded Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy A New York resident has pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of New York to participating in a fraudulent multimillion-dollar mass-mailing scheme that tricked consumers into paying fees for falsely promised cash prizes. According to court documents, from August 2014 through August 2019, Scott Gammon, 47, of Broad Channel, New York, engaged in...

Adam Rogas raised $123M from investors using phony financial statements

Adam Rogas Raised $123 Million From Investors Using Financial Statements That Showed Tens of Millions of Dollars of Revenue and Assets that Did Not Exist Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ADAM ROGAS, the co-founder and former CEO, CFO, and member of the board of directors of Las Vegas-based cyberfraud prevention...