SEC v. GA Investors, No. 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ, District of Massachusetts (Apr. 2, 2024) — Judgment
raw: WHEREAS, on May 11, 2023, the Commission filed its Complaint against Defendant
WHEREAS, on May 11, 2023, the Commission filed its Complaint against Defendant, No. 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ (Apr. 2, 2024)
GA Investors received a default judgment for a fraudulent scheme involving company impersonation and false promises of high returns, resulting in a permanent injunction and significant financial penalties.
The SEC obtained a default judgment against GA Investors for violating the Securities Act and Exchange Act through fraudulent solicitation tactics. The court ordered the defendant to pay $70,058 in disgorgement plus prejudgment interest and a $1,116,140 civil penalty, totaling $1,191,938. Additionally, the defendant is permanently enjoined from future securities fraud and prohibited from participating in the purchase or sale of securities to investors.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against GA Investors alleging a fraudulent scheme that used the impersonation of legitimate companies and promises of exorbitant returns to solicit investments. After GA Investors failed to respond to the litigation, the court entered a default judgment against the defendant. The court found GA Investors liable for violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act. As part of the final judgment, the defendant is permanently restrained from engaging in fraudulent practices and prohibited from participating in the sale of securities to investors. Financially, the defendant is ordered to pay $70,058 in disgorgement of net profits, along with $5,740 in prejudgment interest and a $1,116,140 civil penalty. The total judgment amount of $1,191,938 is intended to address the illicit gains and penalties for the fraudulent conduct.
Extracted insights
- $1.19M $1,191,938 $1M–$10M
- $1.12M $1,116,140 $1M–$10M
- $70K $70,058 $10K–$100K
- $6K $5,740 <$10K
- person ga investors
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities And Exchange Commission filed its Complaint against GA Investors
- Securities And Exchange Commission served GA Investors
- GA Investors engaged in a fraudulent scheme to solicit investors by falsely impersonating legitimate companies and/or falsely promising exorbitant returns for investments in various securities offerings
- Securities And Exchange Commission moved to default GA Investors
- Clerk of Court entered default GA Investors
- Court accepts as true the factual allegations of the Complaint against GA Investors
- Court restrains and enjoins Defendant from violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5
- Court restrains and enjoins Defendant from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act
- Securities And Exchange Commission applied for entry of this Final Judgment
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS ___________________________________________ ) SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ ) GA INVESTORS, ) ) Defendant. ) ___________________________________________ ) F INAL JUDGMENT WHEREAS, on May 11, 2023, the Commission filed its Complaint against Defendant GA Investors alleging that GA Investors engaged in a fraudulent scheme to solicit investors by falsely impersonating legitimate companies and/or falsely promising exorbitant returns for investments in various securities offerings (Doc No. 1). WHEREAS, on May 12, 2023, the Commission served GA Investors by email, as authorized by this Court (Doc No. 6 at ¶IX; Doc No. 7). WHEREAS, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4 and 12(a), the deadline for GA Investors to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint was June 1, 2023. WHEREAS, on February 2, 2014, the Commission moved to default GA Investors based on its failure to appear in this litigation or answer the Commission’s Complaint (Doc No. 37). WHEREAS, in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 55, the Clerk of Court entered default on February 9, 2024 (Doc No. 39). WHEREAS, the Court accepts as true the factual allegations of the Complaint against GA Investors, who has defaulted, and finds that: 2 NOW THEREFORE, BASED ON THE FOREGOING: I. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5], by using any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of the mails, or of any facility of any national securities exchange, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security: (a)to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; (b)to make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or 1. The Court has jurisdiction over this action under Sections 20(d) and 22(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 77t(d), 77v(a)] and Sections 21(d), 21(e), and 27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d), 78u(e), 78aa]. 2. Defendant GA Investors employed the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce or the mails to engage in the conduct alleged in the Complaint. WHEREAS, the Commission has applied, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2), for the entry of this Final Judgment based on Defendant GA Investors’ failure to answer or otherwise respond to the Commission’s Complaint, and the Court having considered the prima facie case for relief shown by the Commission’s Complaint, the memorandum of law in support of the Commission’s Motion for Default Judgment, and the supporting declaration of John McCann, which showing has not been rebutted by Defendant GA Investors. 3 (c)to engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation with Defendant or with anyone described in (a). II. I T IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)] in the offer or sale of any security by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails, directly or indirectly: (a)to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; (b)to obtain money or property by means of any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (c)to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Defendant’s 4 officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation with Defendant or with anyone described in (a). III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that pursuant to Sections 21(d)(1) and 21(d)(5) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1) and (5)], and Section 20(b) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(b)], Defendant is permanently restrained and enjoined from, directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, through any entity owned or controlled by Defendant, participating in the purchase, offer or sale of any security to investors or potential investors, provided, however, that such injunction shall not prevent Defendant from purchasing or selling securities listed on a national securities exchange for its own personal account. IV. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is liable for disgorgement of $70,058, representing net profits gained as a result of the conduct alleged in the Complaint, together with prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of $5,740. The Court further imposes a civil penalty in the amount of $1,116,140 pursuant to Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)], and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)]. Defendant shall satisfy these obligations by paying $1,191,938 to the Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 days after entry of this Final Judgment. Defendant may transmit payment electronically to the Commission, which will provide detailed ACH transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request. Payment may also be made directly from a bank account via Pay.gov through the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm . Defendant may also pay by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or United States postal money order payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shall be delivered or mailed to 5 Enterprise Services Center Accounts Receivable Branch 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK 73169 and shall be accompanied by a letter identifying the case title, civil action number, and name of this Court; GA Investors as a defendant in this action; and specifying that payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment. Defendant shall simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case identifying information to the Commission’s counsel in this action. By making this payment, Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such funds and no part of the funds shall be returned to Defendant. The Commission may enforce the Court’s judgment for disgorgement and prejudgment interest by using all collection procedures authorized by law, including, but not limited to, moving for civil contempt at any time after 30 days following entry of this Final Judgment. The Commission may enforce the Court’s judgment for penalties by the use of all collection procedures authorized by law, including the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, 28 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., and moving for civil contempt for the violation of any Court orders issued in this action. Defendant shall pay post judgment interest on any amounts due after 30 days of the entry of this Final Judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961. The Commission shall hold the funds, together with any interest and income earned thereon (collectively, the “Fund”), pending further order of the Court. The Commission may propose a plan to distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval. Such a plan may provide that the Fund shall be distributed pursuant to the Fair Fund provisions of Section 308(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Court shall retain 6 jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund and the Fund may only be disbursed pursuant to an Order of the Court. Regardless of whether any such Fair Fund distribution is made, amounts ordered to be paid as civil penalties pursuant to this Judgment shall be treated as penalties paid to the government for all purposes, including all tax purposes. To preserve the deterrent effect of the civil penalty, Defendant shall not, after offset or reduction of any award of compensatory damages in any Related Investor Action based on Defendant’s payment of disgorgement in this action, argue that it is entitled to, nor shall it further benefit by, offset or reduction of such compensatory damages award by the amount of any part of Defendant’s payment of a civil penalty in this action (“Penalty Offset”). If the court in any Related Investor Action grants such a Penalty Offset, Defendant shall, within 30 days after entry of a final order granting the Penalty Offset, notify the Commission’s counsel in this action and pay the amount of the Penalty Offset to the United States Treasury or to a Fair Fund, as the Commission directs. Such a payment shall not be deemed an additional civil penalty and shall not be deemed to change the amount of the civil penalty imposed in this Judgment. For purposes of this paragraph, a “Related Investor Action” means a private damages action brought against Defendant by or on behalf of one or more investors based on substantially the same facts as alleged in the Complaint in this action. V. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, solely for purposes of exceptions to discharge set forth in Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 523, the allegations in the complaint are true, and further, any debt for disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalty or other amounts due by Defendant under this Final Judgment or any other judgment, order, consent order, decree or settlement agreement entered in connection with this proceeding, is a debt for the violation by Defendant of the federal securities laws or any 7 Dated: ______________, 2024 ____________________________________ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE regulation or order issued under such laws, as set forth in Section 523(a)(19) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(19). VI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that this Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes of enforcing the terms of this Final Judgment. April 1 /s/ Myong J. Joun
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS ___________________________________________ ) SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ ) GA INVESTORS, ) ) Defendant. ) ___________________________________________ ) FINAL JUDGMENT WHEREAS, on May 11, 2023, the Commission filed its Complaint against Defendant GA Investors alleging that GA Investors engaged in a fraudulent scheme to solicit investors by falsely impersonating legitimate companies and/or falsely promising exorbitant returns for investments in various securities offerings (Doc No. 1). WHEREAS, on May 12, 2023, the Commission served GA Investors by email, as authorized by this Court (Doc No. 6 at ¶IX; Doc No. 7). WHEREAS, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4 and 12(a), the deadline for GA Investors to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint was June 1, 2023. WHEREAS, on February 2, 2014, the Commission moved to default GA Investors based on its failure to appear in this litigation or answer the Commission’s Complaint (Doc No. 37). WHEREAS, in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 55, the Clerk of Court entered default on February 9, 2024 (Doc No. 39). WHEREAS, the Court accepts as true the factual allegations of the Complaint against GA Investors, who has defaulted, and finds that: Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 1 of 7 https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=FRCP+4&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=FRCP+55&clientid=USCourts 2 NOW THEREFORE, BASED ON THE FOREGOING: I. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5], by using any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of the mails, or of any facility of any national securities exchange, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security: (a) to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; (b) to make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or 1. The Court has jurisdiction over this action under Sections 20(d) and 22(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 77t(d), 77v(a)] and Sections 21(d), 21(e), and 27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d), 78u(e), 78aa]. 2. Defendant GA Investors employed the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce or the mails to engage in the conduct alleged in the Complaint. WHEREAS, the Commission has applied, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2), for the entry of this Final Judgment based on Defendant GA Investors’ failure to answer or otherwise respond to the Commission’s Complaint, and the Court having considered the prima facie case for relief shown by the Commission’s Complaint, the memorandum of law in support of the Commission’s Motion for Default Judgment, and the supporting declaration of John McCann, which showing has not been rebutted by Defendant GA Investors. Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 2 of 7 https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=FRCP%0A%0A55%28b%29%282%29&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=FRCP%0A%0A55%28b%29%282%29&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=17%2Bc%2Ef%2Er%2E%2B%2B%2B240%2E10b-5&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=17%2Bc%2Ef%2Er%2E%2B%2B%2B240%2E10b-5&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B77t&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B77v&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B78u&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B78u&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B78aa&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B78j&clientid=USCourts 3 (c) to engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation with Defendant or with anyone described in (a). II. IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)] in the offer or sale of any security by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails, directly or indirectly: (a) to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; (b) to obtain money or property by means of any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (c) to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Defendant’s Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 3 of 7 https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=FRCP+65%28d%29%282%29&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=FRCP+65%28d%29%282%29&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2B%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B77q&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2B%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B77q&clientid=USCourts 4 officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation with Defendant or with anyone described in (a). III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that pursuant to Sections 21(d)(1) and 21(d)(5) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1) and (5)], and Section 20(b) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(b)], Defendant is permanently restrained and enjoined from, directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, through any entity owned or controlled by Defendant, participating in the purchase, offer or sale of any security to investors or potential investors, provided, however, that such injunction shall not prevent Defendant from purchasing or selling securities listed on a national securities exchange for its own personal account. IV. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is liable for disgorgement of $70,058, representing net profits gained as a result of the conduct alleged in the Complaint, together with prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of $5,740. The Court further imposes a civil penalty in the amount of $1,116,140 pursuant to Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)], and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)]. Defendant shall satisfy these obligations by paying $1,191,938 to the Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 days after entry of this Final Judgment. Defendant may transmit payment electronically to the Commission, which will provide detailed ACH transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request. Payment may also be made directly from a bank account via Pay.gov through the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm. Defendant may also pay by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or United States postal money order payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shall be delivered or mailed to Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 4 of 7 http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B78u&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B78u&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B77t&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B77t&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B%2B78u&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=15%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B%2B78u&clientid=USCourts 5 Enterprise Services Center Accounts Receivable Branch 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK 73169 and shall be accompanied by a letter identifying the case title, civil action number, and name of this Court; GA Investors as a defendant in this action; and specifying that payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment. Defendant shall simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case identifying information to the Commission’s counsel in this action. By making this payment, Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such funds and no part of the funds shall be returned to Defendant. The Commission may enforce the Court’s judgment for disgorgement and prejudgment interest by using all collection procedures authorized by law, including, but not limited to, moving for civil contempt at any time after 30 days following entry of this Final Judgment. The Commission may enforce the Court’s judgment for penalties by the use of all collection procedures authorized by law, including the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, 28 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., and moving for civil contempt for the violation of any Court orders issued in this action. Defendant shall pay post judgment interest on any amounts due after 30 days of the entry of this Final Judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961. The Commission shall hold the funds, together with any interest and income earned thereon (collectively, the “Fund”), pending further order of the Court. The Commission may propose a plan to distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval. Such a plan may provide that the Fund shall be distributed pursuant to the Fair Fund provisions of Section 308(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Court shall retain Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 5 of 7 https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=28%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B3001&clientid=USCourts https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=28%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B1961&clientid=USCourts 6 jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund and the Fund may only be disbursed pursuant to an Order of the Court. Regardless of whether any such Fair Fund distribution is made, amounts ordered to be paid as civil penalties pursuant to this Judgment shall be treated as penalties paid to the government for all purposes, including all tax purposes. To preserve the deterrent effect of the civil penalty, Defendant shall not, after offset or reduction of any award of compensatory damages in any Related Investor Action based on Defendant’s payment of disgorgement in this action, argue that it is entitled to, nor shall it further benefit by, offset or reduction of such compensatory damages award by the amount of any part of Defendant’s payment of a civil penalty in this action (“Penalty Offset”). If the court in any Related Investor Action grants such a Penalty Offset, Defendant shall, within 30 days after entry of a final order granting the Penalty Offset, notify the Commission’s counsel in this action and pay the amount of the Penalty Offset to the United States Treasury or to a Fair Fund, as the Commission directs. Such a payment shall not be deemed an additional civil penalty and shall not be deemed to change the amount of the civil penalty imposed in this Judgment. For purposes of this paragraph, a “Related Investor Action” means a private damages action brought against Defendant by or on behalf of one or more investors based on substantially the same facts as alleged in the Complaint in this action. V. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, solely for purposes of exceptions to discharge set forth in Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 523, the allegations in the complaint are true, and further, any debt for disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalty or other amounts due by Defendant under this Final Judgment or any other judgment, order, consent order, decree or settlement agreement entered in connection with this proceeding, is a debt for the violation by Defendant of the federal securities laws or any Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 6 of 7 https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=11%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B523&clientid=USCourts 7 Dated: ______________, 2024 ____________________________________ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE regulation or order issued under such laws, as set forth in Section 523(a)(19) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(19). VI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that this Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes of enforcing the terms of this Final Judgment. April 1 /s/ Myong J. Joun Case 1:23-cv-11050-MJJ Document 45 Filed 04/01/24 Page 7 of 7 https://www.westlaw.com/Link/Document/FullText?rs=USCLink&vr=3.0&findType=Y&cite=11%2Bu%2Es%2Ec%2E%2B%2B523&clientid=USCourts