and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC and
Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC and its partner Arnold David Bray, CPA, willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an unregistered audit report for Alanar Real Estate Investment Trust in May 2004, leading to a cease-and-desist order and censure, with the firm reimbursing the $800 audit fee and both parties barred from practicing before the SEC until registered with the PCAOB.
Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC and Arnold David Bray, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Alanar Real Estate Investment Trust Series 1 Corporation on May 20, 2004, despite not being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement effective since October 22, 2003. Bray, as the engagement partner, participated in preparing and issuing the report, which was included in Alanar’s SEC Form S-11/A filing, and the firm received $800 for the audit. The SEC found both respondents acted willfully, but accepted their settlement offering a cease-and-desist order, censure, and voluntary reimbursement of the audit fee, eliminating disgorgement.
Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC and its partner, Arnold David Bray, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Alanar Real Estate Investment Trust Series 1 Corporation on May 20, 2004, without being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a legal requirement that took effect on October 22, 2003. Bray, as the engagement partner, actively participated in preparing and issuing the report, which was included in Alanar’s SEC Form S-11/A filing, despite the firm’s unregistered status. The audit was performed for a fee of $800, and the firm later voluntarily reimbursed Alanar, leading the SEC to forgo disgorgement. The SEC found both respondents acted willfully and instituted administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings, resulting in a settlement where they consented to censure and a permanent ban on practicing before the SEC until compliance is achieved. To resume practice, Bray & Associates must first register with the PCAOB and submit proof to the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant, and Bray may only practice again if associated with a registered firm. The order underscores the SEC’s strict enforcement of PCAOB registration for auditors of public issuers under Sarbanes-Oxley, even for small-scale engagements.
Extracted insights
- $200K $200,000 $100K–$1M
- $800 $800 <$10K
- company alanar real estate investment trust series 1 corporation
- company bray & associates cpa's llc
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- SEC instituted proceedings against Bray & Associates CPA's LLC and Arnold David Bray, CPA
- Bray & Associates CPA's LLC is headquartered in Greencastle, Indiana
- Bray & Associates CPA's LLC audited balance sheet of Alanar Real Estate Investment Trust Series 1 Corporation as of May 19, 2004
- Arnold David Bray, CPA is licensed in Indiana since 1977
- Arnold David Bray, CPA was engagement partner for Alanar balance sheet audit as of May 19, 2004
- Alanar Real Estate Investment Trust Series 1 Corporation is headquartered in Sullivan, Indiana
- Alanar Real Estate Investment Trust Series 1 Corporation reported total assets of $200,000 as of May 19, 2004
- SEC issued Release No. 56402 on September 13, 2007
- SEC issued Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Release No. 2682 on September 13, 2007
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56402 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2682 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 12763
In the Matter of
Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC
and Arnold David Bray, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND-
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A CEASE-
AND-DESIST ORDER
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that cease-
and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC and
Arnold David Bray, CPA (collectively “Respondents”) pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), and that public administrative proceedings be, and
hereby are, instituted against Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC pursuant to Section 4C
1
of the
Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
2
1
Section 4C provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the
privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found . . .
to have willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the
securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.
2
Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found . . . to have willfully
violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of any provision of the Federal securities laws
or the rules and regulations thereunder.
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondents have submitted an Offer
of Settlement (“Offer”), which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose
of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to
which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings herein, except as
to the Commission’s jurisdiction over them and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are
admitted, Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting Public Administrative and
Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 4C and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Making Findings, and Imposing
Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondents’ Offer, the Commission finds
3
that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC (the “Firm”) is an Indiana limited liability
company headquartered in Greencastle, Indiana. The Firm audited Alanar Real Estate Investment
Trust Series 1 Corporation’s (“Alanar”) balance sheet as of May 19, 2004.
2. Arnold David Bray, CPA, (“Bray”), 59, of Greencastle, Indiana, is a certified
public accountant licensed in the state of Indiana since 1977. Bray was the engagement partner in
connection with the Firm’s audit of Alanar’s balance sheet as of May 19, 2004.
B. FACTS
1. Alanar is an Indiana corporation with its headquarters in Sullivan, Indiana. As of
May 19, 2004, Alanar reported total assets of $200,000.
2. Alanar has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Alanar’s balance sheet as of May 19, 2004, which was included
in Alanar’s registration statement on Form S-11/A, filed with the Commission on September 15,
2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated May 20, 2004 (the
“Alanar audit report”), which the company included in its Form S-11/A. Alanar paid the Firm
$800 for the audit work.
4
3
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents’ Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any
other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
4
During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed Alanar the $800 in
audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
2
4. At the time the Firm issued the Alanar audit report, it was not registered with the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section 102(a) of the
Act.
5. Bray was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Alanar’s balance sheet as
of May 19, 2004. Bray participated in the preparation and issuance of the Alanar audit report.
C. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”
5
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.
6
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully
7
violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Bray caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that the Firm willfully violated Section
102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Bray caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Alanar in connection with the audit work associated with the Alanar audit
report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this
undertaking.
5
A violation of the Act or any rule that the Board issues under the Act is treated for all purposes in the same
manner as a violation of the Exchange Act, including with respect to penalties. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 15
U.S.C.A. § 7202(b)(1) (West 2002).
6
Section 102(a) became effective “[b]eginning 180 days after the date of the determination of the
Commission under Section 101(d)” of the Act that the Board was prepared to undertake its statutory responsibilities.
The Commission made the required determination on April 25, 2003. See
Order Regarding Section 101(d) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Securities Act Release No. 8223, Exchange Act Release No. 47746, 2003 WL
1956164 (Apr. 25, 2003).
7
“Willfully” as used in this Order means intentionally committing the act that constitutes the violation.
There is no requirement that the actor also be aware that he is violating a rule or statute. See Wonsover v. SEC, 205
F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000); Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8 (2d Cir. 1965).
3
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondents’ Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
1. Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC
A. The Firm shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. The Firm is censured.
C. The Firm may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. It is registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such
registration continues to be effective; and
2. It has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the Firm that its registration application has been
approved.
2. Arnold David Bray, CPA
A. Bray shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Bray may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. The public accounting firm with which he is associated is registered
with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such registration continues to be effective; and
2. He has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the public accounting firm with which he is
associated that its registration application has been approved.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
4
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56402 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2682 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 12763
In the Matter of
Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC
and Arnold David Bray, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A CEASE
AND-DESIST ORDER
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that cease-
and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC and
Arnold David Bray, CPA (collectively “Respondents”) pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), and that public administrative proceedings be, and
hereby are, instituted against Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC pursuant to Section 4C1 of the
Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.2
1 Section 4C provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the
privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found . . .
to have willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the
securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.
2 Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found . . . to have willfully
violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of any provision of the Federal securities laws
or the rules and regulations thereunder.
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondents have submitted an Offer
of Settlement (“Offer”), which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose
of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to
which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings herein, except as
to the Commission’s jurisdiction over them and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are
admitted, Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting Public Administrative and
Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 4C and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Making Findings, and Imposing
Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondents’ Offer, the Commission finds3 that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC (the “Firm”) is an Indiana limited liability
company headquartered in Greencastle, Indiana. The Firm audited Alanar Real Estate Investment
Trust Series 1 Corporation’s (“Alanar”) balance sheet as of May 19, 2004.
2. Arnold David Bray, CPA, (“Bray”), 59, of Greencastle, Indiana, is a certified
public accountant licensed in the state of Indiana since 1977. Bray was the engagement partner in
connection with the Firm’s audit of Alanar’s balance sheet as of May 19, 2004.
B. FACTS
1. Alanar is an Indiana corporation with its headquarters in Sullivan, Indiana. As of
May 19, 2004, Alanar reported total assets of $200,000.
2. Alanar has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Alanar’s balance sheet as of May 19, 2004, which was included
in Alanar’s registration statement on Form S-11/A, filed with the Commission on September 15,
2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated May 20, 2004 (the
“Alanar audit report”), which the company included in its Form S-11/A. Alanar paid the Firm
$800 for the audit work.4
3 The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents’ Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any
other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
4 During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed Alanar the $800 in
audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
2
4. At the time the Firm issued the Alanar audit report, it was not registered with the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section 102(a) of the
Act.
5. Bray was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Alanar’s balance sheet as
of May 19, 2004. Bray participated in the preparation and issuance of the Alanar audit report.
C. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”5
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.6
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully7 violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Bray caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that the Firm willfully violated Section
102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Bray caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Alanar in connection with the audit work associated with the Alanar audit
report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this
undertaking.
5 A violation of the Act or any rule that the Board issues under the Act is treated for all purposes in the same
manner as a violation of the Exchange Act, including with respect to penalties. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 15
U.S.C.A. § 7202(b)(1) (West 2002).
6 Section 102(a) became effective “[b]eginning 180 days after the date of the determination of the
Commission under Section 101(d)” of the Act that the Board was prepared to undertake its statutory responsibilities.
The Commission made the required determination on April 25, 2003. See Order Regarding Section 101(d) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Securities Act Release No. 8223, Exchange Act Release No. 47746, 2003 WL
1956164 (Apr. 25, 2003).
7 “Willfully” as used in this Order means intentionally committing the act that constitutes the violation.
There is no requirement that the actor also be aware that he is violating a rule or statute. See Wonsover v. SEC, 205
F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000); Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8 (2d Cir. 1965).
3
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondents’ Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
1. Bray & Associates CPA’s LLC
A. The Firm shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. The Firm is censured.
C. The Firm may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. It is registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such
registration continues to be effective; and
2. It has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the Firm that its registration application has been
approved.
2. Arnold David Bray, CPA
A. Bray shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Bray may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. The public accounting firm with which he is associated is registered
with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such registration continues to be effective; and
2. He has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the public accounting firm with which he is
associated that its registration application has been approved.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
4