SEC Press pdf 270 KB 9,157 chars

In re Dan Clasby & Company and

summary

Dan Clasby & Company and its owner Daniel E. Clasby, CPA, willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an unregistered audit report for Unitronix Corporation’s 2004 financial statements, which was filed with the SEC, leading to a cease-and-desist order and censure without monetary penalties.

paragraph

Dan Clasby & Company and Daniel E. Clasby, CPA, were found to have willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Unitronix Corporation’s 2004 fiscal year without being registered with the PCAOB, a requirement effective since October 2003. Although no fees were collected, the audit report was included in Unitronix’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC, constituting a formal violation. As part of a settlement, both respondents were ordered to cease-and-desist, censured, and barred from practicing before the SEC unless the firm is PCAOB-registered and Clasby is associated with a registered firm.

narrative

Dan Clasby & Company, a sole proprietorship accounting firm based in Massachusetts, and its owner, Daniel E. Clasby, CPA, were charged by the SEC with willfully violating Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Unitronix Corporation’s 2004 fiscal year without being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement that became effective in October 2003. Clasby, as the engagement partner, participated in preparing and issuing the audit report, which was included in Unitronix’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC, despite the firm collecting no fees for the audit. Unitronix, a public issuer under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, had its financial statements audited by an unregistered firm, undermining investor protections. The SEC found both respondents acted willfully, with the firm violating the law directly and Clasby causing the violation. As part of a settled order, neither party admitted or denied the findings but consented to a cease-and-desist order and censure. The firm is barred from practicing before the SEC unless it registers with the PCAOB and submits proof to the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant, while Clasby may only practice if associated with a registered firm. No monetary penalties were imposed, but the sanctions effectively restrict their ability to engage in public company auditing until compliance is achieved.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
accounting-fraud (100%)
Outcome
settled
Classified accounting-fraud(confidence 100%). EDGAR detection: forms 10-K/10-Q/8-K/NT 10-K· recall 80% / precision 48%. detection rule →
Statutes
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACTSECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
Parties
dan clasby & companythe securities and exchange commission
Keywords
commissionclasbyfirmunitronixclasby companysecurities exchangecompanyexchangeaudit reportauditsecuritiesrespondentspublicorderproceedings

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 2
  • $114K $114,000 $100K–$1M
  • $20K $19,700 $10K–$100K
Entities 2
  • company dan clasby & company
  • agency the securities and exchange commission
Triples 8
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission deems it appropriate that cease-and-desist proceedings be instituted against Dan Clasby & Company and Daniel E. Clasby, CPA
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission has determined to accept Respondents' Offer of Settlement
  • The Commission finds that Respondents have willfully violated or aided and abetted the violation of any provision of the securities laws
  • Dan Clasby & Company is a sole proprietorship and public accounting firm based in Beverly, Massachusetts
  • The Firm audited Unitronix Corporation’s financial statements for the company’s 2004 fiscal year ended June 30, 2004
  • Unitronix dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on February 11, 2005
  • Daniel E. Clasby, CPA is a certified public accountant licensed in the state of Massachusetts since 1983
  • Clasby was the engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Unitronix’s financial statements for the company’s 2004 fiscal year ended June 30, 2004
Text layers
Extracted body text (9,157c)

                                                 UNITED                                                 STATES OF AMERICA 

                                                                     Before                                                                     the                                                                     

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
Release No. 56407/ September 13, 2007 
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT 
Release No. 2687 / September 13, 2007 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-12768 
In the Matter of 
Dan Clasby & Company and  
Daniel E. Clasby, 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 Dan Clasby & Company and Daniel 
E. Clasby, 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 Dan Clasby & Company 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. Dan Clasby & Company (the “Firm”) is a sole proprietorship and public 
accounting firm based in Beverly, Massachusetts.  The Firm audited Unitronix Corporation’s 
(“Unitronix”) financial statements for the company’s 2004 fiscal year ended June 30, 2004.  
Unitronix dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on February 11, 2005. 
2. Daniel E. Clasby, CPA, (“Clasby”), 51, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, is a certified 
public accountant licensed in the state of Massachusetts since 1983.  Clasby was the engagement 
partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Unitronix’s financial statements for the company’s 
2004 fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. 
B.        FACTS        
1. Unitronix is a New Jersey corporation with its headquarters in Greenville, South 
Carolina.  Unitronix’s common stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) 
of the Exchange Act and trades on the Pink Sheets under the symbol UTRX.  For its fiscal year 
ended June 30, 2004, Unitronix reported revenues of $114,000 and total assets of $19,700. 
2. Unitronix has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 (the “Act”). 
3. The Firm audited Unitronix’s 2004 financial statements included in Unitronix’s 
annual report for fiscal year 2004 on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on September 28, 
2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated September 20, 2004 
(the “Unitronix audit report”), which the company included in its 2004 Form 10-K.  The Firm did 
not collect any fees for the audit work. 
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. 
2

3 

4. At the time the Firm issued the Unitronix 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. Clasby was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Unitronix’s 2004 
financial statements.  Clasby participated in the preparation and issuance of the Unitronix 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.”
4 
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.
5 
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully
6
 violated Section 102(a) 
of the Act. 
4. Based on the conduct described above, Clasby 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 Clasby 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 Unitronix in connection with the audit work associated with the Unitronix 
audit report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this 
undertaking. 
IV. 
4 
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). 
5 
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). 
6 
“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


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. Dan Clasby & Company 
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. Daniel E. Clasby, CPA 
A. Clasby shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and 
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act. 
B. Clasby 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 
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OCR text (8,686c · tika · 95% conf)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

 Before the 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 


SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
Release No. 56407/ September 13, 2007 

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT 
Release No. 2687 / September 13, 2007 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-12768 

In the Matter of 

Dan Clasby & Company and  
Daniel E. Clasby, 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 Dan Clasby & Company and Daniel 
E. Clasby, 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 Dan Clasby & Company 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. Dan Clasby & Company (the “Firm”) is a sole proprietorship and public 
accounting firm based in Beverly, Massachusetts.  The Firm audited Unitronix Corporation’s 
(“Unitronix”) financial statements for the company’s 2004 fiscal year ended June 30, 2004.  
Unitronix dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on February 11, 2005. 

2. Daniel E. Clasby, CPA, (“Clasby”), 51, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, is a certified 
public accountant licensed in the state of Massachusetts since 1983.  Clasby was the engagement 
partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Unitronix’s financial statements for the company’s 
2004 fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. 

B. FACTS 

1. Unitronix is a New Jersey corporation with its headquarters in Greenville, South 
Carolina.  Unitronix’s common stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) 
of the Exchange Act and trades on the Pink Sheets under the symbol UTRX.  For its fiscal year 
ended June 30, 2004, Unitronix reported revenues of $114,000 and total assets of $19,700. 

2. Unitronix has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 (the “Act”). 

3. The Firm audited Unitronix’s 2004 financial statements included in Unitronix’s 
annual report for fiscal year 2004 on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on September 28, 
2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated September 20, 2004 
(the “Unitronix audit report”), which the company included in its 2004 Form 10-K.  The Firm did 
not collect any fees for the audit work. 

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. 

2


3 



4. At the time the Firm issued the Unitronix 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. Clasby was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Unitronix’s 2004 
financial statements.  Clasby participated in the preparation and issuance of the Unitronix 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.”4 

2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.5 

3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully6 violated Section 102(a) 
of the Act. 

4. Based on the conduct described above, Clasby 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 Clasby 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 Unitronix in connection with the audit work associated with the Unitronix 
audit report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this 
undertaking. 

IV. 

4 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). 

5 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). 

6 “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




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. Dan Clasby & Company 

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. Daniel E. Clasby, CPA 

A. Clasby shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and 
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act. 

B. Clasby 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