SEC v. VUUZLE MEDIA CORP.; VUUZLE MEDIA CORP. LIMITED; RONALD SHANE FLYNN; and RICHARD MARCHITTO, No. 2:21-cv-01226, District of New Jersey (June 26, 2023) — Judgment
raw: SEC v. VUUZLE MEDIA CORP.
SEC v. VUUZLE MEDIA CORP., No. 2:21-cv-01226 (June 26, 2023)
The SEC obtained a default judgment against Vuuzle Media Corp., Ronald Shane Flynn, and others for securities fraud involving deceptive schemes and unregistered offerings.
The court granted the SEC's motion for default judgment against defendants including Vuuzle Media Corp., Vuuzle Media Corp. Limited, Ronald Shane Flynn, and Richard Marchitto. The defendants are permanently enjoined from violating Sections 10(b) and 17(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 5 of the Securities Act. Financial sanctions include disgorgement of $25,807,490.73 plus interest for Flynn and the Vuuzle entities, and $464,819 plus interest for Marchitto.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission successfully obtained a default judgment against Vuuzle Media Corp., Vuuzle Media Corp. Limited, Ronald Shane Flynn, Richard Marchitto, and relief defendant Vumu Music LLC. The defendants were found liable for securities fraud, including making untrue statements of material fact and engaging in the unregistered sale of securities. The court issued permanent injunctions prohibiting the defendants from violating Sections 10(b) and 17(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 5 of the Securities Act. Financial penalties include a joint and several disgorgement of $25,807,490.73 plus interest for Flynn and the Vuuzle entities. Additionally, Marchitto was ordered to disgorge $464,819 plus interest and pay a first-tier civil penalty of $31,080. The court also denied the SEC's request for a third-tier civil penalty against Marchitto.
Extracted insights
- $25.81M $25,807,490 $10M–$100M
- $2.62M $2,619,655 $1M–$10M
- $1.04M $1,035,909 $1M–$10M
- $720K $720,354 $100K–$1M
- $465K $464,819 $100K–$1M
- $31K $31,080 $10K–$100K
- $13K $12,974 $10K–$100K
- person richard marchitto
- person ronald shane flynn
- agency United States Securities And Exchange Commission
- organization United States Securities And Exchange Commission
- company vuuzle media corp.
- United States Securities And Exchange Commission filed motion
- United States Securities And Exchange Commission granted motion for entry of default
- Vuuzle Media Corp. violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act
- Ronald Shane Flynn permanently restrained from violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act
- Richard Marchitto denied third-tier civil penalty
- Vuuzle Media Corp. Limited violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act
- Vumu Music Llc received actual notice of this Final Judgment
- United States Securities And Exchange Commission requested injunctive relief and damages
1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
Civil No.: 21-cv-1226 (KSH) (CLW)
v.
VUUZLE MEDIA CORP., VUUZLE MEDIA
CORP. LIMITED, RONALD SHANE FLYNN,
AND RICHARD MARCHITTO,
Defendants,
and
VUMU MUSIC LLC,
Relief Defendant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
THIS MATTER having come before the Court on the motion (D.E. 144) filed by the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or
Commission”) for entry of default against defendant Vuuzle Media Corp. (“Vuuzle US”) and for
default judgment against defendants Vuuzle US, Vuuzle Media Corp. Limited (“Vuuzle UAE”),
Ronald Shane Flynn, and Richard Marchitto, as well as relief defendant Vumu Music LLC
(“Vumu” and collectively, “defendants”); and the Court having considered the submissions filed
by the SEC (D.E. 144, 150, 153) and Marchitto (D.E. 145, 147, 149, 151, 154); and for the reasons
set forth in the opinion filed herewith,
IT IS on this 22
nd
day of June, 2023,
ORDERED that the motion (D.E. 144) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART
as follows:
•The SEC’s motion for entry of default against Vuuzle US is GRANTED, and the Clerk is
directed to enter default against it;
2
•The SEC’s motion for entry of default judgment against all defendants is GRANTED;
and
•The SEC’s request for injunctive relief and damages is GRANTED except as to its request
for a third-tier civil penalty against Marchitto, which is DENIED.
I.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Flynn, Vuuzle US,
Vuuzle UAE, and Marchitto are 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
(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) the above
defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active
concert or participation with the above defendants, or with anyone described in (a).
3
II.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Flynn,
Vuuzle US, Vuuzle UAE, and Marchitto are 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) the above
defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active
concert or participation with the above defendants, or with anyone described in (a).
III.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Vuuzle
US, Vuuzle UAE, and Flynn are permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 5(a)
and 5(c) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77e] by, directly or indirectly, in the absence of any
applicable exemption:
(a)Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security, making use of any means
4
or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to sell
such security through the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise; or
(c)Making use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in
interstate commerce or of the mails to offer to sell or offer to buy through the use or medium of
any prospectus or otherwise any security, unless a registration statement has been filed with the
Commission as to such security, or while the registration statement is the subject of a refusal order
or stop order or (prior to the effective date of the registration statement) any public proceeding or
examination under Section 8 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77h].
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) the above
defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active
concert or participation with the above defendants, or with anyone described in (a).
IV.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Flynn
is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Exchange Act Section 15(a) [15 U.S.C. §
78o(a)], by using any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of the mails, to effect
any transactions in, or to induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of, any security (other
than an exempted security or commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, or commercial bills) unless
registered with the Commission as a broker or dealer or associated with a broker or dealer
registered with the Commission.
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
5
receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Flynn’s officers,
agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation
with Flynn or with anyone described in (a).
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Marchitto is
permanently restrained and enjoined from aiding and abetting any violation of Securities Act
Section 5 [15 U.S.C. § 77e] by knowingly or recklessly providing substantial assistance to any one
that uses of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce to:
(a)unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security, sell such security through
the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise; or
(c)offer to sell or offer to buy through the use or medium of any prospectus or
otherwise any security, unless a registration statement has been filed with the Commission as to
such security, or while the registration statement is the subject of a refusal order or stop order or
(prior to the effective date of the registration statement) any public proceeding or examination
under Section 8 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77h].
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) Marchitto’s
officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or
participation with Marchitto or with anyone described in (a).
VI.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
defendants are liable for disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains resulting from the conduct alleged
6
in the amended complaint and supported by the additional evidence that the SEC has submitted in
support of its motion. Defendants are also liable for pre-judgment interest on the disgorgement:
a.Flynn, Vuuzle US, and Vuuzle UAE, are jointly and severally liable for disgorgement
of $25,807,490.73 and pre-judgment interest of $720,354.08;
b.Vumu is jointly and severally liable with Flynn, Vuuzle US, and Vuuzle UAE for up
to $2,619,655 of that disgorgment figure; and
c.Marchitto is liable for disgorgement of $464,819 and pre-judgment interest of
$12,974.31.
The Court further imposes civil penalties in the following amounts pursuant to Section
20(d) of the Securities [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C.
§ 78u(d)(3)]:
a.Flynn is liable for a third-tier monetary penalty of $25,807,490.73;
b.Marchitto is liable for a first-tier monetary penalty of $31,080;
c. Vuuzle US is liable for a third-tier monetary penalty of $1,035,909; and
d. Vuuzle UAE is liable for a third-tier monetary penalty of $1,035,909.
Defendants shall satisfy their obligation by paying the amounts owed to the SEC within 30
days after entry of this Final Judgment.
Defendants may transmit payment electronically to the S EC, 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.
Defendants 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:
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
7
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; defendants’ name as a defendant or relief defendant in this action; and specifying that
payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment.
Defendants shall simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case
identifying information to the SEC’s counsel in this action. By making this payment, defendants
relinquish all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such funds and no part of the funds
shall be returned to defendants.
The SEC
shall hold the funds (collectively, the “Fund”) until further order of this Court.
The SEC may propose a plan to distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval, and the Court
shall retain jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund.
The SEC may enforce
the Court’s judgment for disgorgement and pre-judgment 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. Defendants shall
pay
post-judgment interest on any amounts due after 30 days of entry of this Final Judgment pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
VII.
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.
/
s/ Katharine S. Hayden
Katharine S. Hayden, U.S.D.J.1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff, Civil No.: 21-cv-1226 (KSH) (CLW)
v.
VUUZLE MEDIA CORP., VUUZLE MEDIA
CORP. LIMITED, RONALD SHANE FLYNN,
AND RICHARD MARCHITTO,
Defendants,
and
VUMU MUSIC LLC,
Relief Defendant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
THIS MATTER having come before the Court on the motion (D.E. 144) filed by the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or
Commission”) for entry of default against defendant Vuuzle Media Corp. (“Vuuzle US”) and for
default judgment against defendants Vuuzle US, Vuuzle Media Corp. Limited (“Vuuzle UAE”),
Ronald Shane Flynn, and Richard Marchitto, as well as relief defendant Vumu Music LLC
(“Vumu” and collectively, “defendants”); and the Court having considered the submissions filed
by the SEC (D.E. 144, 150, 153) and Marchitto (D.E. 145, 147, 149, 151, 154); and for the reasons
set forth in the opinion filed herewith,
IT IS on this 22nd day of June, 2023,
ORDERED that the motion (D.E. 144) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART
as follows:
• The SEC’s motion for entry of default against Vuuzle US is GRANTED, and the Clerk is
directed to enter default against it;
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 1 of 7 PageID: 3857
2
• The SEC’s motion for entry of default judgment against all defendants is GRANTED;
and
• The SEC’s request for injunctive relief and damages is GRANTED except as to its request
for a third-tier civil penalty against Marchitto, which is DENIED.
I.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Flynn, Vuuzle US,
Vuuzle UAE, and Marchitto are 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
(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) the above
defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active
concert or participation with the above defendants, or with anyone described in (a).
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 2 of 7 PageID: 3858
3
II.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Flynn,
Vuuzle US, Vuuzle UAE, and Marchitto are 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) the above
defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active
concert or participation with the above defendants, or with anyone described in (a).
III.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Vuuzle
US, Vuuzle UAE, and Flynn are permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 5(a)
and 5(c) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77e] by, directly or indirectly, in the absence of any
applicable exemption:
(a) Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security, making use of any means
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 3 of 7 PageID: 3859
4
or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to sell
such security through the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise; or
(c) Making use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in
interstate commerce or of the mails to offer to sell or offer to buy through the use or medium of
any prospectus or otherwise any security, unless a registration statement has been filed with the
Commission as to such security, or while the registration statement is the subject of a refusal order
or stop order or (prior to the effective date of the registration statement) any public proceeding or
examination under Section 8 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77h].
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) the above
defendants’ officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active
concert or participation with the above defendants, or with anyone described in (a).
IV.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Flynn
is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Exchange Act Section 15(a) [15 U.S.C. §
78o(a)], by using any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of the mails, to effect
any transactions in, or to induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of, any security (other
than an exempted security or commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, or commercial bills) unless
registered with the Commission as a broker or dealer or associated with a broker or dealer
registered with the Commission.
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
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 4 of 7 PageID: 3860
5
receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Flynn’s officers,
agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or participation
with Flynn or with anyone described in (a).
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Marchitto is
permanently restrained and enjoined from aiding and abetting any violation of Securities Act
Section 5 [15 U.S.C. § 77e] by knowingly or recklessly providing substantial assistance to any one
that uses of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce to:
(a) unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security, sell such security through
the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise; or
(c) offer to sell or offer to buy through the use or medium of any prospectus or
otherwise any security, unless a registration statement has been filed with the Commission as to
such security, or while the registration statement is the subject of a refusal order or stop order or
(prior to the effective date of the registration statement) any public proceeding or examination
under Section 8 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77h].
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) Marchitto’s
officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or
participation with Marchitto or with anyone described in (a).
VI.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
defendants are liable for disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains resulting from the conduct alleged
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 5 of 7 PageID: 3861
6
in the amended complaint and supported by the additional evidence that the SEC has submitted in
support of its motion. Defendants are also liable for pre-judgment interest on the disgorgement:
a. Flynn, Vuuzle US, and Vuuzle UAE, are jointly and severally liable for disgorgement
of $25,807,490.73 and pre-judgment interest of $720,354.08;
b. Vumu is jointly and severally liable with Flynn, Vuuzle US, and Vuuzle UAE for up
to $2,619,655 of that disgorgment figure; and
c. Marchitto is liable for disgorgement of $464,819 and pre-judgment interest of
$12,974.31.
The Court further imposes civil penalties in the following amounts pursuant to Section
20(d) of the Securities [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C.
§ 78u(d)(3)]:
a. Flynn is liable for a third-tier monetary penalty of $25,807,490.73;
b. Marchitto is liable for a first-tier monetary penalty of $31,080;
c. Vuuzle US is liable for a third-tier monetary penalty of $1,035,909; and
d. Vuuzle UAE is liable for a third-tier monetary penalty of $1,035,909.
Defendants shall satisfy their obligation by paying the amounts owed to the SEC within 30
days after entry of this Final Judgment.
Defendants may transmit payment electronically to the SEC, 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.
Defendants 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:
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 6 of 7 PageID: 3862
7
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; defendants’ name as a defendant or relief defendant in this action; and specifying that
payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment.
Defendants shall simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case
identifying information to the SEC’s counsel in this action. By making this payment, defendants
relinquish all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such funds and no part of the funds
shall be returned to defendants.
The SEC shall hold the funds (collectively, the “Fund”) until further order of this Court.
The SEC may propose a plan to distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval, and the Court
shall retain jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund.
The SEC may enforce the Court’s judgment for disgorgement and pre-judgment 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. Defendants shall pay
post-judgment interest on any amounts due after 30 days of entry of this Final Judgment pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
VII.
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.
/s/ Katharine S. Hayden
Katharine S. Hayden, U.S.D.J.
Case 2:21-cv-01226-KSH-CLW Document 156 Filed 06/22/23 Page 7 of 7 PageID: 3863