The Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) has reached settlements in its case in opposition to Bell Rock Capital, LLC, and its principal, M. Cassandra Toroian, for working a multi-year “cherry-picking” scheme that defrauded Bell Rock shoppers.
Amongst different issues, Defendants agreed to pay disgorgement of $883,597, prejudgment curiosity of $185,451, and mixed civil penalties of $440,000.
The SEC’s grievance alleged that, from no less than January 1, 2011, by means of December 31, 2015, Toroian defrauded Bell Rock shoppers by means of a cherry-picking scheme. Particularly, the SEC’s grievance alleged that Toroian positioned trades by means of a grasp buying and selling account and disproportionately allotted worthwhile trades to accounts belonging to herself and her relations, and disproportionately allotted unprofitable trades to lots of Bell Rock’s shoppers.
The grievance additional alleged that Toroian made materials misrepresentations to shoppers in Bell Rock’s Kind ADV and different communications, together with, as an illustration, that Bell Rock and its related individuals would all the time act of their shoppers’ greatest curiosity and never put their pursuits earlier than the pursuits of shoppers.
The grievance additionally alleged that Bell Rock did not undertake and implement written insurance policies and procedures moderately designed to forestall cherry choosing in violation of Part 206(4) the Funding Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder, and that Toroian aided and abetted Bell Rock’s failure.
With out admitting or denying the allegations, Toroian has agreed to the entry of a ultimate judgment: (i) that completely restrains and enjoins her from violating Part 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), Part 10(b) of the Securities Trade Act of 1934 (“Trade Act”) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, and from aiding and abetting an funding adviser’s violations of Part 206(4) of the Advisers Act and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder; (ii) ordering her to pay disgorgement of $883,597, plus prejudgment curiosity of $185,451; and (iii) ordering her to pay a penalty of $220,000.
With out admitting or denying the allegations, Bell Rock has agreed to the entry of a ultimate judgment: (i) that completely restrains and enjoins it from violating Part 17(a) of the Securities Act, Part 10(b) of the Trade Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Sections 206(1), 206(2), and 206(4) of the Advisers Act and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder; and (ii) ordering it to pay a penalty of $220,000.
The settlements are topic to courtroom approval.
