In re Milner and Brock
Milner and Brock, CPA’s and its engagement partner Stephen D. Milner violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an unregistered audit report for Myriad Entertainment & Resorts in March 2004, resulting in SEC-imposed cease-and-desist orders, censure, and a requirement that they register with the PCAOB to practice before the Commission.
Milner and Brock, CPA’s and its partner Stephen D. Milner willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Myriad Entertainment & Resorts, Inc. in March 2004 while unregistered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The firm received $7,500 in audit fees but voluntarily reimbursed Myriad during the SEC’s investigation, leading the Commission to forgo disgorgement. As part of a settlement, both respondents consented to cease-and-desist orders, the firm was censured, and both are barred from practicing before the SEC unless they provide proof of PCAOB registration.
Milner and Brock, CPA’s, a South Carolina-based accounting firm, and its engagement partner Stephen D. Milner, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Myriad Entertainment & Resorts, Inc. in March 2004 while unregistered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement that became effective in October 2003. Myriad, a public issuer registered with the SEC, had paid the firm $7,500 for the audit, which was included in its Form 10-KSB filing. Milner, as the responsible engagement partner, participated directly in preparing and issuing the unauthorized report. The SEC initiated administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings, and the respondents settled without admitting or denying the findings. As part of the settlement, the firm was censured, both parties consented to cease-and-desist orders, and Milner is barred from practicing before the SEC unless his firm is properly registered with the PCAOB and proof of registration is submitted. The SEC forgave disgorgement after the firm voluntarily reimbursed Myriad the $7,500 audit fee during the investigation. Both respondents must now comply with PCAOB registration requirements to resume any practice before the Commission.
Extracted insights
- $8K $7,500 <$10K
- $7K $6,701 <$10K
- $949 $949 <$10K
- company myriad entertainment & resorts, inc.
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- person south carolina partnership
- Securities And Exchange Commission instituted cease-and-desist proceedings against Milner And Brock, CPA’s And Stephen D. Milner, CPA
- Securities And Exchange Commission instituted public administrative proceedings against Milner And Brock, CPA’s
- Milner And Brock, CPA’s submitted Offer Of Settlement
- Securities And Exchange Commission accepted Offer Of Settlement
- Milner And Brock, CPA’s is South Carolina partnership
- Milner And Brock, CPA’s is public accounting firm headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina
- Milner And Brock, CPA’s audited Myriad Entertainment & Resorts, Inc.’s financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
- Myriad Entertainment & Resorts, Inc. dismissed Milner And Brock, CPA’s as its independent auditor on January 17, 2005
- Stephen D. Milner, CPA is certified public accountant licensed in the state of South Carolina since 1977
- Stephen D. Milner, CPA was engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Myriad’s financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56419 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2699 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12780
In the Matter of
Milner and Brock, CPA’s and
Stephen D. Milner, 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 Milner and Brock, CPA’s and Stephen
D. Milner, 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 Milner and Brock, CPA’s 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. Milner and Brock, CPA’s (the “Firm”) is a South Carolina partnership and a
public accounting firm headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The Firm audited Myriad
Entertainment & Resorts, Inc.’s (“Myriad”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. Myriad dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on January
17, 2005.
2. Stephen D. Milner, CPA, (“Milner”), 54, of Greenville, South Carolina, is a
certified public accountant licensed in the state of South Carolina since 1977. Milner was the
engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Myriad’s financial statements for the
company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
B. FACTS
1. Myriad (known as Synergy 2000, Inc. during the relevant period) is a Delaware
corporation with its headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Myriad’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 MYRA. For its fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Myriad
reported revenues of $949 and total assets of $6,701.
2. Myriad has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Myriad’s 2003 financial statements included in Myriad’s annual
report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on March 29, 2004. As
part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated March 22, 2004 (the “Myriad
audit report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB. Myriad paid the Firm
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
$7,500 for the audit work.
4
4. At the time the Firm issued the Myriad 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. Milner was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Myriad’s 2003 financial
statements. Milner participated in the preparation and issuance of the Myriad 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, Milner 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 Milner caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
4
During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed Myriad the $7,500 in
audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
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
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Myriad in connection with the audit work associated with the Myriad audit
report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this
undertaking.
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. Milner and Brock, CPA’s
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. Stephen D. Milner, CPA
A. Milner shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Milner 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
4
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
5
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56419 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2699 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12780
In the Matter of
Milner and Brock, CPA’s and
Stephen D. Milner, 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 Milner and Brock, CPA’s and Stephen
D. Milner, 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 Milner and Brock, CPA’s 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. Milner and Brock, CPA’s (the “Firm”) is a South Carolina partnership and a
public accounting firm headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The Firm audited Myriad
Entertainment & Resorts, Inc.’s (“Myriad”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. Myriad dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on January
17, 2005.
2. Stephen D. Milner, CPA, (“Milner”), 54, of Greenville, South Carolina, is a
certified public accountant licensed in the state of South Carolina since 1977. Milner was the
engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Myriad’s financial statements for the
company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
B. FACTS
1. Myriad (known as Synergy 2000, Inc. during the relevant period) is a Delaware
corporation with its headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Myriad’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 MYRA. For its fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Myriad
reported revenues of $949 and total assets of $6,701.
2. Myriad has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Myriad’s 2003 financial statements included in Myriad’s annual
report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on March 29, 2004. As
part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated March 22, 2004 (the “Myriad
audit report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB. Myriad paid the Firm
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
$7,500 for the audit work.4
4. At the time the Firm issued the Myriad 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. Milner was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Myriad’s 2003 financial
statements. Milner participated in the preparation and issuance of the Myriad 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, Milner 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 Milner caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
4 During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed Myriad the $7,500 in
audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
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
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Myriad in connection with the audit work associated with the Myriad audit
report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this
undertaking.
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. Milner and Brock, CPA’s
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. Stephen D. Milner, CPA
A. Milner shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Milner 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
4
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
5