2009-11-20 sec-litreleases pdf 503 KB 20,938 chars

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Mohamud Abdi Ahmed

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Mohamud Abdi Ahmed, No. 3:09-cv-02610 (Nov. 20, 2009)

summary

Mohamud Abdi Ahmed and his company ShidaalExpress, Inc. defrauded over 40 Somali immigrant investors of at least $3 million by falsely promising 5% monthly returns from non-existent stock trading, misappropriating funds meant for a money transfer license, and issuing fraudulent stock certificates, leading to an SEC lawsuit seeking asset freezes, disgorgement, and civil penalties.

paragraph

Mohamud Abdi Ahmed and ShidaalExpress, Inc. raised at least $3 million from over 40 investors, primarily from the Somali immigrant community, by falsely claiming to generate 5% monthly returns (60% annually) through stock trading with no risk of loss. Ahmed, who held no securities licenses, misrepresented the use of investor funds—purporting to seek a money transfer license while secretly attempting to buy an interest in another company—and issued stock certificates that were not registered or recognized on any official shareholder list. The SEC charged them with violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, seeking injunctive relief, asset freezes, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with interest, and civil penalties after payments ceased in late 2008 and Ahmed falsely claimed government seizures blocked repayments.

narrative

Mohamud Abdi Ahmed and his company ShidaalExpress, Inc. orchestrated a $3 million securities fraud targeting members of the Somali immigrant community in San Diego, Seattle, and other locations, beginning in at least 2006. Ahmed falsely promised investors guaranteed 5% monthly returns (60% annually) from non-existent stock trading, assuring them there was no risk of loss and that their principal would be repaid on demand, often accepting payments in cash or cashier’s checks. Early investors received payouts, likely funded by new investors, which built trust and encouraged further investments—including $200,000 from a San Diego mosque—based on community referrals and perceived legitimacy. Ahmed misrepresented the use of funds, claiming he was seeking a money transfer license, when in fact he attempted to purchase an interest in another money transfer company, an effort that failed. He issued fraudulent stock certificates to investors, none of whom appeared on any official shareholder list he prepared, while his company’s website falsely promoted real-time stock trading and investment opportunities as recently as November 2009. After ceasing payments in late 2008, Ahmed deceived investors by falsely claiming the government had seized his assets, and the SEC filed a complaint alleging violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act, seeking asset freezes, disgorgement with interest, civil penalties, and the appointment of a receiver.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
unregistered-securities (100%)
Court
Southern District of California
Case No.
3:09-cv-02610
Entity
Shidaal Express, Inc.
Classified unregistered-securities(confidence 100%). EDGAR detection: forms Form D/S-1· recall 41% / precision 30%. detection rule →
Statutes
11U.S.C.§77v(a)15U.S.C.§78aa15U.S.C.§77q(a)15U.S.C.§78j(b)12U.S.C.§ 77q(a)15U.S.C.§77t(d)26U.S.C.§78u(d)12USC341026USC760917C.f.R.§ 240.10b-5
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionMohamud Abdi Ahmed
Keywords
jm-por documentdocument pagecv-jm-pordocumentpageahmediiibarno e-mailofthesecuritiesact andsectionandsection oftheexchangeactandeach ofthemofthesecuritiesactshidaalexpresssecuritiesandexchangecommissio

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 6
  • $3.00M $3million $1M–$10M
  • $600K $600,000 $100K–$1M
  • $10K $10,000 $10K–$100K
  • $500 $500 <$10K
  • $500 $500 <$10K
  • $200 $200 <$10K
Entities 4
  • person Investors
  • person mohamud abdi ahmed
  • agency Securities and Exchange Commission
  • organization Securities and Exchange Commission
Triples 12
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed raised $3 million from over 40 investors
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed promised 5% monthly returns (60% per year) on investments
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed claimed investor funds were safe and would generate returns from stock trading
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed stopped making monthly returns to investors late last year
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed lulled investors with false promises of repayment and claims of seized assets
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed solicited money for a money transfer business
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed claimed he was raising money to obtain a money transfer license
  • Mohamud Abdi Ahmed misappropriated investors' funds by falsely selling shares in Shidaal Express
  • Shidaal Express, Inc. maintains a website touting its stock trading business
  • Shidaal Express advertised investment opportunities as recently as November 9, 2009
  • Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint for violations of federal securities laws
  • Investors invested life savings based on trust from other Somali community members
Text layers
Extracted body text (20,938c)
•
•
ORIGINAL
1JOHNM.McCOYIII,Cal.BarNo.166244
E-mail:[email protected]
2ALKAN.PATEL,Cal.
BarNo.175505
E-mail:[email protected]
3DAVID
S.BROWN,Cal.BarNo.134569
E-mail:[email protected]
·ZDD~NOVi9AH9:25
5
4
6
SecuritiesandExchangeCommission
Rosalind
R.Tyson,RegionalDirector
MicheleWeinLayne,AssociateRegionalDirector
5670WilshireBoulevard,
11thFloor
LosAngeles,California90036
7Telephone:(323)965-3998
Facsimile:(323)965-3908
"~I
UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT
CaseNo.
SOUTHERNDISTRICTOFCALIFORNIA/
'09CV2610JMPOR.
SECURITIESANDEXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
8
9
10
11
12
COMPLAINTFORVIOLATIONSOF
THEFEDERALSECURITIESLAWS
',.

•
•
1PlaintiffSecuritiesandExchangeCommission("Commission")allegesasfollows:
2JURISDICTIONANDVENUE
31.TheCourthasjurisdictionoverthisactionpursuanttoSections20(b),20(d)(1)
4and22(a)oftheSecuritiesActof1933("SecuritiesAct"),15U.S.C.§§77t(b),77t(d)(I)&
577v(a),andSections21(d)(l),21(d)(3)(A),21(e)and27oftheSecuritiesExchangeActof1934
6("ExchangeAct"),
15U.S.C.§§78u(d)(l),78u(d)(3)(A),78u(e),and78aa.TheDefendants
7have,directlyorindirectly,madeuse
ofthemeansorinstrumentalitiesofinterstatecommerce,of
8themails,orofthefacilitiesofa nationalsecuritiesexchangeinconnectionwiththetransactions,
9acts,practicesandcourses
ofbusinessallegedinthisComplaint.
102.Venueis properinthisdistrictpursuanttoSection22(a)
oftheSecuritiesAct,15
11U.S.C.§77v(a),andSection27oftheExchangeAct,15U.S.C.§78aa,becausecertainofthe
12transactions,acts,practices,andcourses
ofconductconstitutingtheviolationsallegedherein
13occurredwithinthisdistrict,the entitydefendantis locatedinthisdistrict,andtheindividual
14defendantresidesinthis district.
15SUMMARY
163.ThisactionhasbeenfiledtohaltanongoingsecUritiesfraudschemetargeting
17members
oftheSomaliimmigrantcommunitywholiveinSanDiego,Seattle,andelsewhere.
18Sinceatleast2006,DefendantMohamudAbdiAhmed("Ahmed")hasraisedat least$3million
19fromover40investors-  including$200,000froma SanDiegomosque-  forhispurportedstock
20tradingandfinancialservicesbusinessoperatedthroughDefendantShidaalExpress,Inc.
21("ShidaalExpress").Ahmedmadefalsepromisesofexorbitantreturnsof5%permonth-  or
2260%peryear-  claimingthatforeach$10,000investmentmade
byan'investor,theinvestor
23wouldreceive$500a month.Ahmedrepresentedhewouldgeneratethosereturnsfromtrading
24stocksandtherewasnorisk
ofloss.Ahmedtoldinvestorstheirmoneywassafeandhehada
25history
ofgoodresults.Ahmedpromisedinvestors,manyofwhominvestedincashorcashier's
26checks,hewouldrepaytheirprincipalat anytimeupontheirrequest.Investorsinitiallyreceived
27some
ofthepurportedmonthlyreturns,manyofwhichwere paidincash,butAhmedceased
28makingthesepaymentslatelastyear.SinceAhmedstoppedpayingmonthlyreturns,hehasbeen
1

•
•
1lullinginvestorswithfalsepromisesofrepaymentofprincipaland/orfalselyclaimingthathe
2couldnotrepaythembecausethegovernmenthadseizedhisassets.Severalinvestorsinvested
3theirlife'ssavingswithAhmedbecauseothersintheSomalicommunityhadinvestedwith
4Ahmed,receivedpromisedreturns,andtrustedhim.
54.Ahmedalsosolicitedmoneyforhismoneytransferbusinessandmade
6misrepresentationstoinvestorsabouttheuseofinvestorproceeds.  Ahmedclaimedhewas
7raisingmoneytoobtaina moneytransferlicense,butactuallywastryingtobuyaninterestin
8anothermoneytransfercompany.Ahmed'spurchaseofthatinterestwasunsuccessful.Ahmed
9misappropriatedinvestors'fundsbyclaimingtosellthemsharesinhismoneytransferbusiness,
10butinvestorswhoreceivedShidaalExpressstockcertificatesdonotappearona listofShidaal
11ExpressshareholdersAhmedprepared.
125.ShidaalExpresscontinuestomaintaina website whichtoutsthecompany'sstock
13tradingbusinessand,asrecent!yasNovember9,2009,a signpostedoutsidea ShidaalExpress
14storeinSanDiegoadvertises"InvestmentOpportunities."
156.TheDefendants,byengagingintheconductdescribedinthisComplaint,have
16violated,andunlessenjoined~i11continuetoviolate,theantifraudprovisionsofthefederal
17securitieslaws.
18THEDEFENDANTS
197.MohamudAbdiAhmed,age45,is a residentofSpringValley,California.
20Ahmedis theCEO,president,secretary,chainnanandfounderofShidaalExpress.Ahmeddoes
21notholdanysecuritieslicensesandis notregisteredasorassociatedwithaninvestmentadviser.
22
8.ShidaalExpress,Inc.is a Californiacorporation locatedinSanDiego,
23California.Itwasalsoincorporatedin MinnesotaandWashingtonstate.Itis notregisteredwith
24theCommissioninanycapacityandit hasnotregisteredanyofferingofitssecuritiesunderthe
25SecuritiesActora classofsecuritiesundertheExchangeAct.ShidaalExpressis controlledby
26Ahmed.
27III
28III
2

•
•
1FACTS
2TheDefendantsOperatea FraudulentScheme
3Background
4
9.AhmedformedShidaalExpressin2006toprovidecheck-cashing~money
5
transfer~andothersimilarservicesfortheSomaliimmigrantcommunity.ShidaalExpress
6operatesstoresintheSanDiegoareaandmayoperateinothercitieswithlargeSomali
7communities.Since2007~ShidaalExpresshasbeenregisteredas.aMoneyServiceBusinessby
8theU.S.TreasuryDepartment~sFinancialCrimesEnforcementNetwork.Certainbusiness
9listingsontheInternetdescribeShidaalExpressasa "onestopconveniencecenterforallbill
10pays~moneyorders~moneywirings~checkcashingandprepaiddebitcards."Amongthe
11servicestoutedona signat oneShidaalExpressstorefrontinSanDiegois:"Investment
12Opportunities."ThissignwasvisibleasrecentlyasNovember9~2009.
1310.ShidaalExpresscurrentlymaintainsawebsite~www.shidaal.com~whichis
14registeredtoAhmedandanothercompanyhecontrols.ThewebsitedoesnotreferenceShidaal
15Express"moneytransferservicesandprovidesnorelevantinformationaboutthecompanyorits
16operationsotherthanlistingAhmedasitschairmanandCEO.Instead~thewebsiteprovides
17stockrecommendations~dailystockforecasts~andotherinformationaboutstocktrading.
18Specifically~thewebsiteshows"DailyRealTimeTrades"andinvitestheviewerto"Comehere
19andwatchourrealtimetrades."Thewebsiteclaimstoserve''TheHappiest~ustomers"and
20invitesviewerstoregisterforthesitetoreceive..emailnotificationupdates"andotherthingsthat
21arepasswordprotected.Thewebsitecontainsa lengthy"Disclaimef~claimingit is-notinvolved
22ininvestmentadvisoryandsecurities-relatedactivitiesunderthefederalsecuritieslaws.
23Ahmed'sInvestmentScheme
24
11.Sinceat least2006~Ahmedhasraisedat least$3millionfrommorethan40
25investorsintheSomaliimmigrant communityinSanDiego~Seattle~andelsewhere.Several
26investorsknewofAhmedthrougha mosqueinSanDiego,whichitselfinvested$200~000with
27Ahmed.Ahmeddirectlysolicitedsomeinvestorsincludinggivingpresentationstoprospective
28investorsat a hotelneartheSeattle-Tacomaairportin2008.Ahmedofferedtopay$500
3

•
•
13.Severalinvestorsinvestedtheirlife'ssavingswithAhmedbecauseothersinthe
Somalicommunityhadinvestedwithhim,theysaidtheyreceivedpromisedreturns,andthey
saidtheytrustedhim.Investorsofteninvestedincashorwithcashier'schecks.
14.Ahmeddidnotgiveinvestorsanydocumentsabouttheinvestmentbeforethey
invested.Ahmeddidnotprovideanydocumentsorreceiptstoacknowledgeinvestments.
Ahmeddidnotprovideinvestorswithanyaccountstatements.Untillate2008,investors
receivedmonthlyreturnsusuallyincashorinsome casesthroughpaymentstorelatives.
15.TheDefendantshadsecuritiesbrokerageaccounts,most
oftheminAhmed'sown
name,whichwereusedtoengageinriskysecuritiestradingstrategiesthat
donotappeartohave
generatedprofitssufficienttopayinvestorsthereturns
of5%permonthpromisedbyAhmed.
16.Ahmedalsosolicitedfundsforhismoneytransferbusiness.Ahmedrepresented
toat leastoneinvestorin2008thatheneededtoraise$1.2milliontoobtaina license
forhis
moneytransferbusiness, claimingtohavealreadyraised$600,000.Inthoseinstances,Ahmed
promisedtoissueshares
ofShidaalExpressexchangeforinvestorfunds.In otherinstances,
however,Ahmedsimplyrolled-overinvestors' priorinvestmentsintoShidaalExpresswithout
theirconsent.Forexample,aninvestorwhopreviouslyinvested$10,000forthe5%monthly
returnlaterinvested$40,000toacquireshares
ofShidaalExpressand$30,000foranother
separateinvestment.Ahmed,however,gavetheinvestora stock certificatefortheentire
$70,000investment,eventhough$10,000hadbeenmadeforthefixed-returninvestment.The
1cOmmissiontoexistinginvestorsforeachnewinvestortheyreferred.Otherinvestors
2approachedAhmed
byreferralfromexistinginvestorsorthroughwordofmouthintheSomali
3community.
412.Ahmedpromisedinvestorsa guaranteed5%monthlyreturn(i.e.,60%annually),
5payableona morithlybasis.Ahmedclaimedhegeneratedreturnsfromstocktrading.Ahmed
6toutedhisprioreducationandexperienceasa stocktraderandclaimedhehadneverlostany
7money.Ahmedinsistedoninvestmentsinincrements
of$10,000,whichhetoldsomeinvestors
8
qQuldonlybemadeincash.Ahmedassuredinvestorstheycouldrequestthemoneybackat any
9time.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
4

•
•
1investorneitherconsentedtotherollovernorreceivedanymeaningfulresponsewhenhe
2questionedAhmedaboutit.Ahmedrolled-overotherinvestorsina similarfashion.
317.Inlate2007theDefendantssoughttoacquirea 49%interestina SanDiego-area
4moneytransfercompanylicensedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofFinancialInstitutions("DFI").
5Aspart
ofthetransaction,ShidaalExpressagreedto makea capitalcontributioninexcessof
6$500,000intothatcompany,whichfiledanapplicationwiththeDFItoseekapprovalofthe
7transaction.DFIconditionallyapprovedthetransactioninlate2008,andrequiredShidaal
8Expresstomakea $500,000capitalcontribution.ShidaalExpressfailedtomakethis
9contribution.OnJuly1,2009,DFIterminateditsapprovalofthetransaction.
10
FraudulentMisrepresentationsandOmissions
1118.Ahmed,whohasneverbeenlicensedasa securitiesprofessional,orallypromised
12investorsguaranteed5%permonth,or60%annual,returnsontheirinvestment.Althoughhe
13initiallypaidthepromisedreturns,Ahmed stoppedmakingthesepaymentsinlate2008.Despite
i4investors'repeatedrequeststhatAhmedhonorhispromises,hehasfailedtopaythemany
15returns.
1619.Ahmedpromisedinvestorsthathewouldrepaytheirprincipalat anytimeupon
17request.Althoughinvestorshavedemandedreturnoftheirprincipal,sincelate2008,Ahmedhas
18failedtoreturntheirfunds.Instead,Ahmed haslulledinvestorsintobelievingthattheir
19investmentsaresafe.Topacifysomeinvestors,Ahmedmadesmallpaymentsbycheck,which
20werereturnedforinsufficientfunds.Ahmedmisrepresentedtoseveralinvestorsthathecould
21notrepaythembecausethegovernmenthadseizedhisassets.Ahmedthreatenedsomeinvestors
22whowereinclinedtocooperatewiththeFBIbytellingthemthatheandhisassociateshada lot
23of"moneyandpower."Inanotherinstance,fromApriltoJuly2009,Ahmedtriedtoextract
24evenmoremoneyfromoneunemployedinvestorbyfalselypromisinghima positionina new
25ShidaalExpresslocationinSanJose, California,inexchangeforadditionalfunds.Atleasttwo
26investorshaveretainedanattorneyandthreatenedtofilea lawsuitagainstAhmed.Ahmedtold
27severalinvestorsiftheysued,theywouldgetnothing.
2820..Ahmedmisusedinvestorfundsraisedforthemoneytransferbusiness.Ahmed
5

•
•
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
gavecertaininvestorsShidaalExpressstockcertificates,buttheseinvestorsdonotappeardonot
appearasshareholdersondocumentsprepared
bytheDefendants.Thisshareholderlist,updated
as
ofMay12,2009,purportedlyincludedthenamesandownershipinterestsofallShidaal
Expressshareholders,butat leastthreeinvestorswhoreceivedShidaalExpressstockcertificates
fromAhmedbeforeMay2009werenotonthelist.
21.Ahmedrepresentedtoat leastoneinvestorin2008thathewasraisingmoneyto
obtaina moneytransferlicense,whichheclaimedwouldproveprofitableforShidaalExpress.
However,ShidaalExpresswasoperatingduringthistimeas
anauthorizedMoneyService
Businessunderfederalfinancialregulationsandasanagentfora California-licensedmoney
transfercompany.Assuch,ShidaalExpress wasalreadyengagedinthatbusinessand
presumablyhadtheappropriate
registrati~nsandlicensestodoso.Duringthattime,the
Defendantswerenotworkingonobtaininga CalifornialicenseforShidaalExpress;rather,they
wereattemptingtoacquireaninterestinanotherentityandit appearsthattheDefendants
intendedtouseinvestors'moneytopaythe$500,000considerationforacquiringthatinterest
instead
ofobtainingtheirownlicense,whichwasnotdisclosedto.investors.
FIRSTCLAIMFORRELIEF
FRAUDIN.THEOFFERORSALEOFSECURITIES
ViolationsofSection17(a)OftheSecuritiesAct
(AgainstDefendantsShidaalExpressandAhmed)
22.TheCommissionreallegesandincorporates
byreferenceparagraphs1 through21
above.
withscienter,employeddevices,schemes,orartificestodefraud;
obtainedmoneyorproperty
bymeansofuntruestatementsofa material
factor
byomittingtostatea materialfactnecessaryinordertomakethe
b.
a.
2223.DefendantsAhmedandShidaalExpress,andeachofthem,byengaginginthe
23conductdescribedabove,directlyorindirectly,intheofferorsaleofsecuritiesbytheuseof
24meansorinstrumentsoftransportationorcommunicationininterstatecommerceorbyuseofthe
25mails:
26
27
28
6

"
•
•
statementsmade,inlightofthecircumstancesunderwhichtheywere
c.
25.
made,notmisleading;or
engagedintransactions,practices,orcourses
ofbusinesswhichoperated
orwouldoperate
asa fraudordeceituponthepurchaser.
24.
Byengagingintheconductdescribedabove,DefendantsAhmedandShidaal
Express,andeach
ofthem,violated,andunlessrestrainedandenjoinedwillcontinuetoviolate,
Section17(a)
oftheSecuritiesAct,15U.S.C.§77q(a).
SECONDCLAIMFORRELIEF
FRAUDINCONNECTIONWITHTHEPuRCHASEORSALEOFSECURITIES
ViolationsofSectionlO(b)oftheExchangeActandRulelOb-5Thereunder
(AgainstDefendantsShidaalExpressandAhmed)
TheCommissionreallegesandincorporates
byreferenceparagraphs1 through21
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13above.
1426.DefendantsAhmedandShidaalExpress,andeach
ofthem,byengaginginthe
15conductdescribedabove,directlyorindirectly,inconnectionwiththepurchaseorsaleofa
16security,
bytheuseofmeansorinstrumentalitiesofinterstatecommerce,ofthemails,orofthe
17facilities
ofa nationalsecuritiesexchange,withscienter:
18a.employeddevices,schemes,orartificestodefraud;
19b.madeuntruestatements
ofa materialfactoromittedtostatea material
20factnecessaryinordertomakethestatementsmade,inlight
ofthe
21circumstancesunderwhichtheyweremade,notmisleading;or
22
c.engagedinacts,practices,orcoursesofbusinesswhichoperatedorwould
23operateasa fraudordeceituponotherpersons.
2427.Byengagingintheconductdescribedabove,DefendantsAhmedandShidaal
25Express,andeach,ofthem,violated,andunless'restrainedandenjoinedwillcontinuetoviolate,
26Section10(b)
oftheExchangeAct,15U.S.C.§78j(b),andRule10b-5thereunder,17C.F.R.§
27240.lOb-5.
28III
7

•
•
1PRAYERFORRELIEF
2WHEREFORE,theCommissionrespectfullyrequeststhattheCourt:
3L
4IssuefindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawthatDefendantAhmedandShidaalExpress
. 5committedtheallegedviolations.
6li
7issuejudgments,ina formconsistentwithRule65(d)oftheFederalRulesofCivil
8Procedure,temporarily,preliminarily,andpermanentlyenjoiningDefendantsAhmedand
9Shidaal Express,andtheirofficers,agents,servants,employeesandattorneys,andthoseinactive
10concertorparticipationwithany
ofthem,whoreceiveactualnoticeoftheorderbypersonal
11serviceorotherwise,andeachofthem,fromviolatingSection17(a)oftheSecuritiesAct,15
12U.S.C.§ 77q(a),andSection10(b)oftheExchangeAct,15U.S.C.§ 78j(b),andRulelOb-5
13thereunder,17C.f.R.§ 240.10b-5.
14III.
15Issue,ina formconsistentwithRule65oftheFederalRulesofCivilProcedure,a
16temporaryrestrainingorderanda preliminaryinjunctionfreezingtheassetsofeachofthe
17Defendantsandanyentityaffiliatedwithanyofthem,prohibitingeachoftheDefendantsfrom
18destroyingdocuments,grantingexpediteddiscovery,andrequiringaccountingsfromeachofthe
19Defendants.
20
IV.
21OrdertheDefendantstodisgorgeallill-gottengainsfromtheillegalconductalleged
22herein,togetherwithprejudgmentinterestthereon.
23v.
24OrderDefendantsAhmedandShidaalExpresstopaycivilpenaltiespursuanttoSection
2520(d)oftheSecuritiesAct,15U.S.C.§77t(d)andSection21(d)(3)oftheExchangeAct,15
26U.S.C.§78u(d)(3).
27III
28III
8

------------------------------
1
•
VI.
•
2Issue,ina fonnconsistentwithFed.R.Civ.P.65,anorderappointinga receiverover
3DefendantShidaalExpressandtheassetsthereof.
4VII.
5Retainjurisdictionofthisactioninaccordancewiththeprinciplesofequityandthe
6FederalRilles
ofCivilProcedureinordertoimplementandcarryoutthetermsofallordersand
7decreesthat
maybeentered,ortoentertainanysuitableapplicationormotionforadditional
8reliefwithinthejurisdiction
ofthisCourt.
9VIII.
10GrantsuchotherandfurtherreliefasthisCourtmaydeterminetobejustandnecessary.
11
1'2DATED:November18,2009
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
9
~
•
DavidS.Brown
AttorneyforPlaintiff
SecuritiesandExchangeCommission

~JS44(Rev.12/07)
CIVILCOVERSHEET
TheJS44civilcoversheetandtheinformationcontainedhereinneitherreplacenorsupplementthefilingandserviceofpleadingsorotherpapersasrequiredbylaw,exceptasprovided
by10~a.1rulesofcourt.Thisform,approvedbytheJudicialConferenceoftheUnitedStatesinSeptember1974,isrequiredfor!!le~~eoftheClerkofCourtforthepurposeofmitiating
thecIvildocketsheet.(SEEINSTRUCTIONSONTHEREVERSEOFTHEFORM.)Ie1*(:~.d
II.BASISOFJURISDICTION(Placean"X"inOneBoxOnly)
(b)CountyofResidenceofFirstListedPlaintiff
(EXCEPTINU.S.PLAINTIFFCASES)
I.(a)PLAINTIFFS
SECURITIESANDEXCHANGECOMMISSION
DEF
0
I
lucorporated
orPrincipalPlace
ofBusiuessInTIlisState
o202
Incorporated
andPrincipalPlace050
5
ofBusinessInAnotherState
o30
3ForeignNation0
6
0
6
Citizeu
ofAnothcrState
CirizenorSubject
ofa,
Forei!l1Count
CitizeilofTIlisState
t;
III.
o3FederalQuesrion
(U.S.GovernmentNota Pany)
o4Diversity
(IudicateCitizenship
ofPartiesiuItemIII)
(c)Attol11ey's(FinnName,Address,andTelephoneNnmber)
David
S.Brown,Esq(323)965-3998
SecuritiesandExchangeCommission
5670WilshireBoulevard11thFloorLosAnelesCA90036
o2U.S.Govennnent
Defendant
C!l:IU.S.Government
Plainriff
IVNATUREOFSUIT(Placeau"X"inOneBoxOnlv)
CONTRAGT
.
,.
TORTS:·FORFEITURE/PENALTY<,.
},~
,_,'BANKRUPTCY»
)!~"
WH',,:;OTHERSTATUTES:""
o110In'surance
PERSONALINJURY
PERSONALINJURYo610Ab";culture
o422Appeal28USC158
0
400StateReapportioument
o120Marine
0
310Airplane
0
362PersonalInjury-o620Otl,crFood&Dmgo423Withdrawal
0
410Anritmst
0'130MillerAct
0
315AirplaneProductMed.Malpracrice
o625DmgRelatedSeizure
28USC\57
0
430BanksandBankiug
'0\40Negotiablelustmment
Liability
0
365PersonalInjury-
ofProperty2\USC881
0
450Commerce
0
150Recovery
ofOverpayment
0
320Assault,Libel
&
ProductLiabilityo630LiquorLaws
PRAPFJITYRI:HTs
0
460Deponarion
&EnforcementofJudgment
Slander
0
368AsbestosPersonal
o640R.R.&Trucko820Copyrights0
470RacketeerInnuencedaud
0151MedicareAct
0
330FederalEmployers'InjuryProduct
o650AirlineRegs.o830Patent
Co";'uptOrganizarions
o152RecoveryofDefaulted
LiabilityLiability
o6600ccuparional
o840Trademark
0
480ConsumerCredit
StudeutLoans
0
340Marine
PERSONALPROPERTY
SafetylHealth.
0
490Cable/SatTV
(Exc!.Veterans)
0
345MarineProduct
0
370OtherFraud
o690Other0
8\0 SelecriveSeNice
0
153RecoveryofOverpayment
Liability
0
371TnnhinLendingLAIIOR
:,SOCIALSECURITY,
a
850SecuririeslCouunoditiesl
ofVeterau'sBenefits
0350MotorVehicle
0
380OtherPersonalo710FairLaborStandardso861HIA(l395fl)
Exchange
o160Stockholders'Suits
0
355MotorVehiclePropertyDamage
Act
o862BlackLung(923)
0
875CustomerChallenge
0
190OtherContract
ProductLiability
0
' 385PropertyDamage
o720Labor/Mgmt.Relationso863DIWC/D1WW(405(g»)
12USC3410
o195ContractProductLiability
0
360OtherPersonal
ProductLiability
o730Labor/Mgnlt.Reportingo864ssmTitleXVI0
890OtherStatutoryActions
o196Franchise
luiury
&DisclosureAct
o865RSI(405(g))
0
891AgriculturalActs
REAl;PROPERTY
",
:CI.VIr.;'RIGHTSt<,'l'"PRISONER:PETITIONS
o740RailwayLaborAct
lillY':FEDERAI3,·TAX·SUlTS:0'!'3i:q:
0
892EconomicStabilizarionAct
o210LandCondemuation
0
441Voring
0
510MorionstoVacate
o790OtherLaborLirigation
o870Taxes(U.S.Plaintiff
0
893EnvironmentalMatters
o220Foreclosure
0
442Employment
Sentenceo791Emp!.Ret.Inc.
orDefendant)
0
894EnergyAllocariouAct
o230RentLease&Ejectment
0443Housing!HabeasCorpus:SecurityAct
o871'IRS-ThirdParty
0
895FreedomofInfonnation
o240TortstoLand
Accommodations
0
530General
26USC7609
Act
o245TortProductLiability
0
444Welfare
0
535DeathPenalty
'-f---'~
'H:,
IMMIGRATI0I'!V7i:i
~",,;.;e;
0
900AppealofFeeDetemlination
"~'-;'",-'
o290AllOtllerRealProperty
0
445Amer.w/Disabilities-
0540Mandamus&Othero462NanlralizationApplicarion
UnderEqualAccess
Employment
0
550CivilRightso463HabeasCorpus-
toJustice
0
446Amer.w/Disabilities-
0
555PrisonCondirionAlienDetainee0
950Consriturionality
of
Other
o465OtherImmigration
StateStatutes
0
440OtherCivilRights
Actions
V.ORIGIN
~IOriginal
Proceeding
(Placean"X"inOneBoxOnly)
o2Removedfrom0    3
StateCourt
Remandedfrom0   4Reinstatedor05Transferredfrom0   6Multidistrict
AppellateCourtReopenedanoth~rdistrictLitigation
seClf
o7
AppealtoDistrict
Judgefrom
Magistrate
Judment
CitetheU.S.CivilStatuteunderwhichyouarefiling(Donotcitejurisdictionalstatutesunlessdiversity):
VI.CAUSEOFACTION1-,_,15_Uo_S_,C_.§:..7_7~q(;.,.a:.:..);_15_U_._S._C....:.§:.,.7_8:.:.j(b...:;),;...a_nd_1_7_C_.F_.R_...:;§_2_40_.1_0_b-_5_
Briefdescriptionofcause:
TheComplaintallegesviolationsofthefederalsecuritieslaws.
VII.REQUESTEDIN
COMPLAINT:
oCHECKIFTHISISACLASSACTIONDEMAND$
UNDERF.R.C.P.23
CHECKYESonlyifdemandedincomplaint:
JURYDEMAND:0YesgJNo
VIII.RELATEDCASE(S)
IFANY
DATE
FOROFFICEUSEONLY
(Seeinstrucrions):
JUDGE
~
DOCKETNUMBER
RECEIPT#AMOUNT
----------
APPLYINGIFP
------
JUDGE
-----
MAG.JUDGE
-------
----~~
OCR text (25,268c · tika · 95% conf)
• • ORIGINAL
1 JOHN M. McCOY III, Cal. BarNo. 166244

E-mail: [email protected]
2 ALKA N. PATEL, Cal. BarNo. 175505

E-mail: [email protected]
3 DAVID S. BROWN, Cal. BarNo. 134569

E-mail: [email protected]

·ZDD~ NOV i 9 AH 9: 25

5

4

6

Securities and Exchange Commission
Rosalind R. Tyson, Regional Director
Michele Wein Layne, Associate Regional Director
5670 Wilshire Boulevard, 11 th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90036

7 Telephone: (323) 965-3998
Facsimile: (323) 965-3908

"~I

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Case No.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA /

'09 CV 2610 JM POR.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,

8

9

10

11

12

COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATIONS OF
THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS',.

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 1 of 11 



    • •
1 Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") alleges as follows:

2 JURISDICTION AND VENUE

3 1. The Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Sections 20(b), 20(d)(1)

4 and 22(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act"), 15 U.S.C. §§ 77t(b), 77t(d)(I) &

5 77v(a), and Sections 21 (d)(l), 21 (d)(3)(A), 21(e) and 27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

6 ("Exchange Act"), 15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(l), 78u(d)(3)(A), 78u(e), and 78aa. The Defendants

7 have, directly or indirectly, made use of the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of

8 the mails, or of the facilities of a national securities exchange in connection with the transactions,

9 acts, practices and courses ofbusiness alleged in this Complaint.

10 2. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to Section 22(a) of the Securities Act, 15

11 U.S.C. § 77v(a), and Section 27 of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78aa, because certain of the

12 transactions, acts, practices, and courses of conduct constituting the violations alleged herein

13 occurred within this district, the entity defendant is located in this district, and the individual

14 defendant resides in this district.

15 SUMMARY

16 3. This action has been filed to halt an ongoing secUrities fraud scheme targeting

17 members of the Somali immigrant community who live in San Diego, Seattle, and elsewhere.

18 Since at least 2006, Defendant Mohamud Abdi Ahmed ("Ahmed") has raised at least $3 million

19 from over 40 investors - including $200,000 from a San Diego mosque - for his purported stock

20 trading and financial services business operated through Defendant Shidaal Express, Inc.

21 ("Shidaal Express"). Ahmed made false promises of exorbitant returns of 5% per month - or

22 60% per year - claiming that for each $10,000 investment made by an'investor, the investor

23 would receive $500 a month. Ahmed represented he would generate those returns from trading

24 stocks and there was no risk of loss. Ahmed told investors their money was safe and he had a

25 history of good results. Ahmed promised investors, many ofwhom invested in cash or cashier's

26 checks, he would repay their principal at any time upon their request. Investors initially received

27 some of the purported monthly returns, many of which were paid in cash, but Ahmed ceased

28 making these payments late last year. Since Ahmed stopped paying monthly returns, he has been

1

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 2 of 11 



    • •
1 lulling investors with false promises of repayment ofprincipal and/or falsely claiming that he

2 could not repay them because the government had seized his assets. Several investors invested

3 their life's savings with Ahmed because others in the Somali community had invested with

4 Ahmed, received promised returns, and trusted him.

5 4. Ahmed also solicited money for his money transfer business and made

6 misrepresentations to investors about the use of investor proceeds. Ahmed claimed he was

7 raising money to obtain a money transfer license, but actually was trying to buy an interest in

8 another money transfer company. Ahmed's purchase of that interest was unsuccessful. Ahmed

9 misappropriated investors' funds by claiming to sell them shares in his money transfer business,

10 but investors who received Shidaal Express stock certificates do not appear on a list of Shidaal

11 Express shareholders Ahmed prepared.

12 5. Shidaal Express continues to maintain a website which touts the company's stock

13 trading business and, as recent!y as November 9, 2009, a sign posted outside a Shidaal Express

14 store in San Diego advertises "Investment Opportunities."

15 6. The Defendants, by engaging in the conduct described in this Complaint, have

16 violated, and unless enjoined ~i11 continue to violate, the antifraud provisions of the federal

17 securities laws.

18 THE DEFENDANTS

19 7. Mohamud Abdi Ahmed, age 45, is a resident of Spring Valley, California.

20 Ahmed is the CEO, president, secretary, chainnan and founder of Shidaal Express. Ahmed does

21 not hold any securities licenses and is not registered as or associated with an investment adviser.

22 8. Shidaal Express, Inc. is a California corporation located in San Diego,

23 California. It was also incorporated in Minnesota and Washington state. It is not registered with

24 the Commission in any capacity and it has not registered any offering of its securities under the

25 Securities Act or a class of securities under the Exchange Act. Shidaal Express is controlled by

26 Ahmed.

27 III

28 III

2

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 3 of 11 



    • •
1 FACTS

2 The Defendants Operate a Fraudulent Scheme

3 Background

4 9. Ahmed formed Shidaal Express in 2006 to provide check-cashing~ money

5 transfer~ and other similar services for the Somali immigrant community. Shidaal Express

6 operates stores in the San Diego area and may operate in other cities with large Somali

7 communities. Since 2007 ~ Shidaal Express has been registered as .a Money Service Business by

8 the U.S. Treasury Department~s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Certain business

9 listings on the Internet describe Shidaal Express as a "one stop convenience center for all bill

10 pays~ money orders~ money wirings~ check cashing and prepaid debit cards." Among the

11 services touted on a sign at one Shidaal Express storefront in San Diego is: "Investment

12 Opportunities." This sign was visible as recently as November 9~ 2009.

13 10. Shidaal Express currently maintains a website~ www.shidaal.com~ which is

14 registered to Ahmed and another company he controls. The website does not reference Shidaal

15 Express" money transfer services and provides no relevant information about the company or its

16 operations other than listing Ahmed as its chairman and CEO. Instead~ the website provides

17 stock recommendations~ daily stock forecasts~ and other information about stock trading.

18 Specifically~ the website shows "Daily Real Time Trades" and invites the viewer to "Come here

19 and watch our real time trades." The website claims to serve ''The Happiest ~ustomers" and

20 invites viewers to register for the site to receive ..email notification updates" and other things that

21 are password protected. The website contains a lengthy "Disclaimef~ claiming it is -not involved

22 in investment advisory and securities-related activities under the federal securities laws.

23 Ahmed's Investment Scheme

24 11. Since at least 2006~ Ahmed has raised at least $3 million from more than 40

25 investors in the Somali immigrant community in San Diego~ Seattle~ and elsewhere. Several

26 investors knew ofAhmed through a mosque in San Diego, which itself invested $200~000 with

27 Ahmed. Ahmed directly solicited some investors including giving presentations to prospective

28 investors at a hotel near the Seattle-Tacoma airport in 2008. Ahmed offered to pay $500

3

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 4 of 11 



    • •

13. Several investors invested their life's savings with Ahmed because others in the

Somali community had invested with him, they said they received promised returns, and they

said they trusted him. Investors often invested in cash or with cashier's checks.

14. Ahmed did not give investors any documents about the investment before they

invested. Ahmed did not provide any documents or receipts to acknowledge investments.

Ahmed did not provide investors with any account statements. Until late 2008, investors

received monthly returns usually in cash or in some cases through payments to relatives.

15. The Defendants had securities brokerage accounts, most of them in Ahmed's own

name, which were used to engage in risky securities trading strategies that do not appear to have

generated profits sufficient to pay investors the returns of 5% per month promised by Ahmed.

16. Ahmed also solicited funds for his money transfer business. Ahmed represented

to at least one investor in 2008 that he needed to raise $1.2 million to obtain a license forhis

money transfer business, claiming to have already raised $600,000. In those instances, Ahmed

promised to issue shares of Shidaal Express exchange for investor funds. In other instances,

however, Ahmed simply rolled-over investors' prior investments into Shidaal Express without

their consent. For example, an investor who previously invested $10,000 for the 5% monthly

return later invested $40,000 to acquire shares of Shidaal Express and $30,000 for another

separate investment. Ahmed, however, gave the investor a stock certificate for the entire

$70,000 investment, even though $10,000 had been made for the fixed-return investment. The

1 cOmmission to existing investors for each new investor they referred. Other investors

2 approached Ahmed by referral from existing investors or through word ofmouth in the Somali

3 community.

4 12. Ahmed promised investors a guaranteed 5% monthly return (i.e., 60% annually),

5 payable on a morithly basis. Ahmed claimed he generated returns from stock trading. Ahmed

6 touted his prior education and experience as a stock trader and claimed he had never lost any

7 money. Ahmed insisted on investments in increments of $1 0,000, which he told some investors

8 qQuld only be made in cash. Ahmed assured investors they could request the money back at any

9 time.

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 5 of 11 



    • •
1 investor neither consented to the rollover nor received any meaningful response when he

2 questioned Ahmed about it. Ahmed rolled-over other investors in a similar fashion.

3 17. In late 2007 the Defendants sought to acquire a 49% interest in a San Diego-area

4 money transfer company licensed by the California Department ofFinancial Institutions ("DFI").

5 As part of the transaction, Shidaal Express agreed to make a capital contribution in excess of

6 $500,000 into that company, which filed an application with the DFI to seek approval of the

7 transaction. DFI conditionally approved the transaction in late 2008, and required Shidaal

8 Express to make a $500,000 capital contribution. Shidaal Express failed to make this

9 contribution. On July 1, 2009, DFI terminated its approval of the transaction.

10 Fraudulent Misrepresentations and Omissions

11 18. Ahmed, who has never been licensed as a securities professional, orally promised

12 investors guaranteed 5% per month, or 60 % annual, returns on their investment. Although he

13 initially paid the promised returns, Ahmed stopped making these payments in late 2008. Despite

i 4 investors' repeated requests that Ahmed honor his promises, he has failed to pay them any

15 returns.

16 19. Ahmed promised investors that he would repay their principal at any time upon

17 request. Although investors have demanded return of their principal, since late 2008, Ahmed has

18 failed to return their funds. Instead, Ahmed has lulled investors into believing that their

19 investments are safe. To pacify some investors, Ahmed made small payments by check, which

20 were returned for insufficient funds. Ahmed misrepresented to several investors that he could

21 not repay them because the government had seized his assets. Ahmed threatened some investors

22 who were inclined to cooperate with the FBI by telling them that he and his associates had a lot

23 of "money and power." In another instance, from April to July 2009, Ahmed tried to extract

24 even more money from one unemployed investor by falsely promising him a position in a new

25 Shidaal Express location in San Jose, California, in exchange for additional funds. At least two

26 investors have retained an attorney and threatened to file a lawsuit against Ahmed. Ahmed told

27 several investors if they sued, they would get nothing.

28 20. . Ahmed misused investor funds raised for the money transfer business. Ahmed

5

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 6 of 11 



    • •
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

gave certain investors Shidaal Express stock certificates, but these investors do not appear do not

appear as shareholders on documents prepared by the Defendants. This shareholderlist, updated

as ofMay 12,2009, purportedly included the names and ownership interests ofall Shidaal

Express shareholders, but at least three investors who received Shidaal Express stock certificates

from Ahmed before May 2009 were not on the list.

21. Ahmed represented to at least one investor in 2008 that he was raising money to

obtain a money transfer license, which he claimed would prove profitable for Shidaal Express.

However, Shidaal Express was operating during this time as an authorized Money Service

Business under federal financial regulations and as an agent for a California-licensed money

transfer company. As such, Shidaal Express was already engaged in that business and

presumably had the appropriate registrati~ns and licenses to do so. During that time, the

Defendants were not working on obtaining a California license for Shidaal Express; rather, they

were attempting to acquire an interest in another entity and it appears that the Defendants

intended to use investors' money to pay the $500,000 consideration for acquiring that interest

instead of obtaining their own license, which was not disclosed to.investors.

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

FRAUD IN.THE OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES

Violations of Section 17(a) Of the Securities Act

(Against Defendants Shidaal Express and Ahmed)

22. The Commission realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 21

above.

with scienter, employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud;

obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material

fact or by omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the

b.

a.

22 23. Defendants Ahmed and Shidaal Express, and each of them, by engaging in the

23 conduct described above, directly or indirectly, in the offer or sale of securities by the use of

24 means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by use of the

25 mails:

26

27

28

6

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 7 of 11 



    " • •
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were

c.

25.

made, not misleading; or

engaged in transactions, practices, or courses ofbusiness which operated

or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser.

24. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Ahmed and Shidaal

Express, and each of them, violated, and unless restrained and enjoined will continue to violate,

Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77q(a).

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH THE PuRCHASE OR SALE OF SECURITIES

Violations of Section lO(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule lOb-5 Thereunder

(Against Defendants Shidaal Express and Ahmed)

The Commission realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 21

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13 above.

14 26. Defendants Ahmed and Shidaal Express, and each of them, by engaging in the

15 conduct described above, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of a

16 security, by the use ofmeans or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of the mails, or of the

17 facilities of a national securities exchange, with scienter:

18 a. employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud;

19 b. made untrue statements of a material fact or omitted to state a material

20 fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the

21 circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

22 c. engaged in acts, practices, or courses ofbusiness which operated or would

23 operate as a fraud or deceit upon other persons.

24 27. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Ahmed and Shidaal

25 Express, and each ,of them, violated, and unless'restrained and enjoined will continue to violate,

26 Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §

27 240.lOb-5.

28 III

7

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 8 of 11 



    • •
1 PRAYER FOR RELIEF

2 WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that the Court:

3 L

4 Issue findings of fact and conclusions of law that Defendant Ahmed and Shidaal Express

. 5 committed the alleged violations.

6 li

7 issue judgments, in a form consistent with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil

8 Procedure, temporarily, preliminarily, and permanently enjoining Defendants Ahmed and

9 Shidaal Express, and their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and those in active

10 concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of the order by personal

11 service or otherwise, and each of them, from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, 15

12 U.S.C. § 77q(a), and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), and Rule lOb-5

13 thereunder, 17 C.f.R. § 240.10b-5.

14 III.

15 Issue, in a form consistent with Rule 65 of the Federal Rules ofCivil Procedure, a

16 temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction freezing the assets of each of the

17 Defendants and any entity affiliated with any ofthem, prohibiting each of the Defendants from

18 destroying documents, granting expedited discovery, and requiring accountings from each ofthe

19 Defendants.

20 IV.

21 Order the Defendants to disgorge all ill-gotten gains from the illegal conduct alleged

22 herein, together with prejudgment interest thereon.

23 v.

24 Order Defendants Ahmed and Shidaal Express to pay civil penalties pursuant to Section

25 20(d) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. §77t(d) and Section 21 (d)(3) of the Exchange Act, 15

26 U.S.C. §78u(d)(3).

27 III

28 III

8

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 9 of 11 



    

------------------------------

1

•
VI.

•
2 Issue, in a fonn consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P. 65, an order appointing a receiver over

3 Defendant Shidaal Express and the assets thereof.

4 VII.

5 Retain jurisdiction of this action in accordance with the principles of equity and the

6 Federal Rilles of Civil Procedure in order to implement and carry out the terms of all orders and

7 decrees that may be entered, or to entertain any suitable application or motion for additional

8 relief within the jurisdiction of this Court.

9 VIII.

10 Grant such other and further relief as this Court may determine to be just and necessary.

11

1'2 DATED: November 18, 2009

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

9

~•
David S. Brown
Attorney for Plaintiff
Securities and Exchange Commission

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 10 of 11 



    

~JS 44 (Rev. 12/07) CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service ofpleadings or other papers as required by law, except as provided
by 10~a.1 rules ofcourt. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for !!le ~~e of the Clerk ofCourt for the purpose ofmitiating
the cIvil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE OF THE FORM.) Ie 1* (:~. d

II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an "X" in One Box Only)

(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff

(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES)

I. (a) PLAINTIFFS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

DEF
0 I lucorporated or Principal Place

of Busiuess In TIlis State

o 2 0 2 Incorporated and Principal Place 0 5 0 5
of Business In Another State

o 3 0 3 Foreign Nation 0 6 0 6

Citizeu of Anothcr State

Cirizen or Subject of a,
Forei !l1 Count

Citizeil of TIl is State
t;

III.

o 3 Federal Quesrion
(U.S. Government Not a Pany)

o 4 Diversity

(Iudicate Citizenship of Parties iu Item III)

(c) Attol11ey's (Finn Name, Address, and Telephone Nnmber)

David S. Brown, Esq (323) 965-3998
Securities and Exchange Commission
5670 Wilshire Boulevard 11th Floor Los An eles CA 90036

o 2 U.S. Govennnent
Defendant

C!l: I U.S. Government
Plainriff

IV NATURE OF SUIT (Place au "X" in One Box Onlv)
CONTRAGT . ,. TORTS: ·FORFEITURE/PENALTY<,. },~ , _,'BANKRUPTCY» )!~" WH',,:;OTHER STATUTES:""

o 110 In'surance PERSONAL INJURY PERSONAL INJURY o 610 Ab";culture o 422 Appeal 28 USC 158 0 400 State Reapportioument
o 120 Marine 0 310 Airplane 0 362 Personal Injury - o 620 Otl,cr Food & Dmg o 423 Withdrawal 0 410 Anritmst
0'130 Miller Act 0 315 Airplane Product Med. Malpracrice o 625 Dmg Related Seizure 28 USC \57 0 430 Banks and Bankiug
'0 \40 Negotiable lustmment Liability 0 365 Personal Injury - of Property 2\ USC 881 0 450 Commerce
0 150 Recovery ofOverpayment 0 320 Assault, Libel & Product Liability o 630 Liquor Laws PRAPFJITYRI :HTs 0 460 Deponarion

& Enforcement ofJudgment Slander 0 368 Asbestos Personal o 640 R.R. & Truck o 820 Copyrights 0 470 Racketeer Innuenced aud
0 151 Medicare Act 0 330 Federal Employers' Injury Product o 650 Airline Regs. o 830 Patent Co";'upt Organizarions
o 152 Recovery of Defaulted Liability Liability o 6600ccuparional o 840 Trademark 0 480 Consumer Credit

Studeut Loans 0 340 Marine PERSONAL PROPERTY SafetylHealth . 0 490 Cable/Sat TV
(Exc!. Veterans) 0 345 Marine Product 0 370 Other Fraud o 690 Other 0 8\ 0 Selecrive SeNice

0 153 Recovery of Overpayment Liability 0 371 Tnnh in Lending LAIIOR :,SOCIALSECURITY, a 850 SecuririeslCouunoditiesl
ofVeterau's Benefits 0 350 Motor Vehicle 0 380 Other Personal o 710 Fair Labor Standards o 861 HIA (l395fl) Exchange

o 160 Stockholders' Suits 0 355 Motor Vehicle Property Damage Act o 862 Black Lung (923) 0 875 Customer Challenge
0 190 Other Contract Product Liability 0 ' 385 Property Damage o 720 Labor/Mgmt. Relations o 863 DIWC/D1WW (405(g») 12 USC3410
o 195 Contract Product Liability 0 360 Other Personal Product Liability o 730 Labor/Mgnlt.Reporting o 864 ssm Title XVI 0 890 Other Statutory Actions
o 196 Franchise luiury & Disclosure Act o 865 RSI (405(g)) 0 891 Agricultural Acts

REAl; PROPERTY " , :CI.VIr.;'RIGHTSt<,'l '" PRISONER:PETITIONS o 740 Railway Labor Act lillY': FEDERAI3,·TAX·SUlTS:0'!'3i:q: 0 892 Economic Stabilizarion Act
o 210 Land Condemuation 0 441 Voring 0 510 Morions to Vacate o 790 Other Labor Lirigation o 870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff 0 893 Environmental Matters
o 220 Foreclosure 0 442 Employment Sentence o 791 Emp!. Ret. Inc. or Defendant) 0 894 Energy Allocariou Act
o 230 Rent Lease & Ejectment 0 443 Housing! Habeas Corpus: Security Act o 871' IRS-Third Party 0 895 Freedom of Infonnation
o 240 Torts to Land Accommodations 0 530 General 26 USC 7609 Act
o 245 Tort Product Liability 0 444 Welfare 0 535 Death Penalty '-f---'~ 'H:, IMMIGRATI0I'!V7i:i ~",,;.;e; 0 900Appeal of Fee Detemlination"~'-;'",-'

o 290 All Otller Real Property 0 445 Amer. w/Disabilities- 0 540 Mandamus & Other o 462 Nanlralization Applicarion Under Equal Access
Employment 0 550 Civil Rights o 463 Habeas Corpus - to Justice

0 446 Amer. w/Disabilities- 0 555 Prison Condirion Alien Detainee 0 950 Consriturionality of
Other o 465 Other Immigration State Statutes

0 440 Other Civil Rights Actions

V. ORIGIN
~ I Original

Proceeding

(Place an "X" in One Box Only)

o 2 Removed from 0 3
State Court

Remanded from 0 4 Reinstated or 0 5 Transferred from 0 6 Multidistrict
Appellate Court Reopened anoth~rdistrict Litigation

s eClf

o 7

Appeal to District
Judge from
Magistrate
Jud ment

Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
VI. CAUSE OF ACTION 1-,_,15_Uo_S_,C_.§:..7_7~q(;.,.a:.:..); _15_U_._S._C....:.§:.,.7_8:.:.j(b...:;),;...a_nd_1_7_C_.F_.R_...:;§_2_40_.1_0_b-_5 _

Brief description of cause:
The Complaint alleges violations of the federal securities laws.

VII. REQUESTED IN
COMPLAINT:

o CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND $
UNDER F.R.C.P. 23

CHECK YES only ifdemanded in complaint:

JURY DEMAND: 0 Yes gJ No

VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
IF ANY

DATE

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

(See instrucrions):
JUDGE

~
DOCKET NUMBER

RECEIPT # AMOUNT---- ------ APPLYING IFP------ JUDGE----- MAG. JUDGE-------

----~~

Case 3:09-cv-02610-JM-POR Document 1 Filed 11/19/09 Page 11 of 11