SEC v. iFresh, Inc.; and Long Deng, No. LR-25735, Eastern District of New York (May 25, 2023) — Press Release
raw: iFresh, Inc. and Long Deng
iFresh, Inc. and Long Deng, No. 1:22-cv-03200 (E.D.N.Y. May 25, 2023)
Long Deng, former CEO of iFresh, Inc., settled SEC fraud charges for failing to disclose $12 million in related-party transactions, resulting in a $134,706 fine and a five-year officer/director bar.
Long Deng settled SEC fraud charges for failing to disclose over $12 million in payments to a company owned by his brother between 2016 and 2020. The misstatements resulted in accounts receivable being comprised of 18% to 54% undisclosed related-party transactions. Deng agreed to pay $44,706 in disgorgement and interest plus a $90,000 civil penalty and a five-year bar from public company leadership.
The SEC reached a settlement with Long Deng, the former CEO of iFresh, Inc., regarding fraud related to undisclosed related-party transactions between 2016 and 2020. The complaint alleged that iFresh failed to disclose over $12 million in payments to a company owned by Deng's brother, causing accounts receivable to be comprised of 18% to 54% undisclosed transactions. These omissions led to materially misstated financial statements that deprived investors of the true scope of Deng's intertwined business interests. Without admitting or denying the allegations, Deng agreed to a final judgment including a $90,000 civil penalty and $44,706 in disgorgement and interest. He is also barred from serving as an officer or director of a public company for five years. While Deng's case is resolved, litigation against iFresh, Inc. remains ongoing.
Exhibits & Attached Documents (1)
Extracted insights
- $12.00M $12 million $10M–$100M
- $90K $90,000 $10K–$100K
- $45K $44,706 $10K–$100K
- person ariella o. guardi
- company ifresh, inc.
- company in its fraud action against long deng, the former ceo of ifresh, inc.
- person long deng
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities And Exchange Commission announced a settlement in its fraud action against Long Deng, the former CEO of iFresh, Inc.
- Long Deng agreed to pay $44,706 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a $90,000 civil penalty
- Long Deng was barred from acting as an officer or director of a public company for five years
- iFresh, Inc. filed materially inaccurate financial statements from August 10, 2016 through August 13, 2020
- iFresh, Inc. failed to disclose numerous transactions with entities related to Long Deng and his brother
- iFresh, Inc. failed to disclose over $12 million in payments to a company owned by Deng's brother
- iFresh, Inc. deprived investors of the true scope of iFresh and Deng's intertwined business interests
- Long Deng consented to be permanently enjoined from Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder
- Long Deng consented to be permanently enjoined from aiding and abetting violations of Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20 and 13a-1 thereunder
- Securities And Exchange Commission conducted investigation by Ruta G. Dudenas and Ann Tushaus, CPA, supervised by Amy S. Cotter of the Chicago Regional Office
- Securities And Exchange Commission is conducting litigation by Ariella O. Guardi
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 25735 / May 25, 2023 Securities and Exchange Commission v. iFresh, Inc. and Long Deng, No. 1:22-cv-03200 (E.D.N.Y. filed May 31, 2022) SEC Resolves Fraud Case Against Former CEO of New York-Based iFresh, Inc. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a settlement in its fraud action against Long Deng, the former CEO of iFresh, Inc. Deng agreed, without admitting or denying the allegations, to the entry of a final judgment that requires him to pay $44,706 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, a $90,000 civil penalty, and bars him from acting as an officer or director of a public company for a period of five years. The SEC's complaint alleged iFresh, Inc., a public issuer, repeatedly filed materially inaccurate financial statements that failed to fully disclose related party transactions from August 10, 2016 through August 13, 2020 that were related to Deng. During that time iFresh failed to properly disclose numerous transactions with entities related to Deng and his brother. iFresh's financial statements were allegedly materially misstated in the each of the years 2016 through 2020. In addition, between 2017 and 2020, from 18% to 54% of iFresh's accounts receivable allegedly were from undisclosed related party transactions. The complaint further alleged that between 2016 and 2020, iFresh failed to disclose over $12 million in payments to a company owned by Deng's brother. Finally, the complaint alleged that by misrepresenting information about iFresh's related party transactions, iFresh deprived investors of the true scope of iFresh and Deng's intertwined business interests. Deng, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, consented to the entry of a final judgment in which he agreed to be permanently enjoined from Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, or from aiding and abetting violations of Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20 and 13a-1 thereunder. Deng also agreed to pay $44,706 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, a $90,000 civil penalty, and to be barred from acting as an officer or director of any public company for a period of five years. The litigation against iFresh is ongoing. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Ruta G. Dudenas and Ann Tushaus, CPA, and supervised by Amy S. Cotter of the Chicago Regional Office. The litigation is being conducted by Ariella O. Guardi.
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 25735 / May 25, 2023 Securities and Exchange Commission v. iFresh, Inc. and Long Deng, No. 1:22-cv-03200 (E.D.N.Y. filed May 31, 2022) SEC Resolves Fraud Case Against Former CEO of New York-Based iFresh, Inc. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a settlement in its fraud action against Long Deng, the former CEO of iFresh, Inc. Deng agreed, without admitting or denying the allegations, to the entry of a final judgment that requires him to pay $44,706 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, a $90,000 civil penalty, and bars him from acting as an officer or director of a public company for a period of five years. The SEC's complaint alleged iFresh, Inc., a public issuer, repeatedly filed materially inaccurate financial statements that failed to fully disclose related party transactions from August 10, 2016 through August 13, 2020 that were related to Deng. During that time iFresh failed to properly disclose numerous transactions with entities related to Deng and his brother. iFresh's financial statements were allegedly materially misstated in the each of the years 2016 through 2020. In addition, between 2017 and 2020, from 18% to 54% of iFresh's accounts receivable allegedly were from undisclosed related party transactions. The complaint further alleged that between 2016 and 2020, iFresh failed to disclose over $12 million in payments to a company owned by Deng's brother. Finally, the complaint alleged that by misrepresenting information about iFresh's related party transactions, iFresh deprived investors of the true scope of iFresh and Deng's intertwined business interests. Deng, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, consented to the entry of a final judgment in which he agreed to be permanently enjoined from Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, or from aiding and abetting violations of Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20 and 13a-1 thereunder. Deng also agreed to pay $44,706 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, a $90,000 civil penalty, and to be barred from acting as an officer or director of any public company for a period of five years. The litigation against iFresh is ongoing. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Ruta G. Dudenas and Ann Tushaus, CPA, and supervised by Amy S. Cotter of the Chicago Regional Office. The litigation is being conducted by Ariella O. Guardi.