Father and son convicted of COVID-19 PPP fraud
A federal jury in the Western District of North Carolina convicted two men this week for the submission of fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.7 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to evidence presented during a six-day trial, Izzat...
Two Florida Tax Preparers Sentenced to Prison
Fraudulently Claimed Nearly $3 Million in Refunds
Two Florida tax preparers were sentenced to prison yesterday for conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing false tax returns.
Nikency Alexis, the owner and operator of Unity Tax & Financial Services (Unity Tax), a Broward County tax preparation business, was sentenced to 45 months  in prison, and Thony Guillaume, who worked as...
Register for the SEC’s 41st Annual Small Business Forum to Impact Capital Raising Policy
Washington D.C. — The Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation will host the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 41st Annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation over four virtual sessions April 4-7 from 1:00-2-30pm ET. Each day will focus on a different topic and feature speakers with in-depth knowledge of the issues facing small businesses across...
Former Media Producer Convicted of Extortion and Obstruction of Justice
A federal jury has convicted a former producer from Puerto Rico of extortion and obstruction of justice related to his involvement in a scheme to obtain money in exchange for preventing the release of chat messages involving senior officials in the Government of Puerto Rico.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sixto Jorge DÃaz Colón, 54, of...
The US announces increased international cooperation to target Russian assets
Australia, Canada, the European Commission, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, the UK, and U.S., Agree to Increased Cooperation to Target Russian Assets
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen today met virtually with representatives from Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission, to launch the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO)...
Russian government employees charged in historical hacking campaigns targeting critical infrastructure worldwide
Defendants’ Separate Campaigns Both Targeted Software and Hardware for Operational Technology Systems
The Department of Justice has unsealed two indictments charging four defendants –all Russian nationals who worked for the Russian government– with attempting, supporting and conducting computer intrusions that together, in two separate conspiracies, targeted the global energy sector between 2012 and 2018. In total, these hacking campaigns targeted...
Husband of Energy Company Manager Charged with Insider Trading
Spouse purchased stock using non-public information about planned merger
Washington D.C. — The Securities and Exchange Commission this week charged Tyler Loudon of Houston, Texas, with insider trading ahead of a February 2023 announcement that London-based oil and gas company BP p.l.c. agreed to acquire TravelCenters of America Inc., a full-service truck stop and travel center company headquartered in Ohio....
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...
Chicago Woman Convicted on Federal Fraud and Tax Charges
Defendant Cashed Her Deceased Grandmother’s Pension Checks
A federal jury convicted an Illinois woman on fraud and tax offenses for cashing her deceased grandmother’s pension checks and preparing false tax returns.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Eunice Salley, aka Eunice Sally Dobyns, aka Oya Awanata-Bey, aka Oya Awanata, 37, of Chicago, was found guilty on all 29...
SEC proposes rules on cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance, and incident disclosure by public companies
Washington D.C. — The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed amendments to its rules to enhance and standardize disclosures regarding cybersecurity risk management, strategy, governance, and incident reporting by public companies.
"Over the years, our disclosure regime has evolved to reflect evolving risks and investor needs," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. "Today, cybersecurity is an emerging risk with which public...