In re CHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE
Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corp and its partner Ernest E. Dow, CPA, issued an unregistered $3,600 audit report for VALCAPX Acquisition Corp after the Sarbanes‑Oxley deadline, leading the SEC to institute administrative proceedings that could result in censure or a ban from practicing before the Commission.
Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation, a California public accounting firm, and its engagement partner Ernest E. Dow, CPA, prepared and issued a December 2, 2004 audit report for VALCAPX Acquisition Corp and were paid $3,600 for the work. The firm had never registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, violating Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, which bars unregistered firms from auditing public reporting companies after October 22, 2003. The SEC therefore instituted administrative proceedings under Section 4C of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e), seeking possible censure or a permanent denial of the right to practice before the Commission.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed administrative proceedings against Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation and its engagement partner Ernest E. Dow, CPA, for preparing and issuing a December 2, 2004 audit report for VALCAPX Acquisition Corp. The audit firm, based in Los Angeles, received $3,600 for auditing VALCAPX’s 2002‑2004 financial statements, which were included in the company’s Form 10‑KSB filed on December 9, 2004. Despite knowing the requirement to register with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Choi Dow never obtained PCAOB registration, making it unqualified to issue audit reports for a public reporting company after the October 22, 2003 deadline. This conduct violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, which prohibits unregistered firms from preparing or issuing audit reports for issuers. The SEC alleges willful violations and is pursuing sanctions under Section 4C of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e), which may include censure or a permanent ban on appearing before the Commission. The order institutes the proceedings and sets the framework for adjudicating the alleged misconduct.
Extracted insights
- $4K $3,600 <$10K
- company audit report dated december 2, 2004 for valcapx acquisition corp.
- company choi dow ian hong & lee accountancy corporation
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- company valcapx acquisition corp.
- Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation is California Corporation And Public Accounting Firm Headquartered In Los Angeles, California
- Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation prepared and issued Audit Report Dated December 2, 2004 For VALCAPX Acquisition Corp.
- Ernest E. Dow, CPA is Certified Public Accountant Licensed In California Since 1983
- Ernest E. Dow, CPA participated in Preparation And Issuance Of December 2, 2004 VALCAPX Audit Report
- VALCAPX Acquisition Corp. is Nevada Corporation Based In Los Angeles, California
- VALCAPX Acquisition Corp. reported No Revenue And No Assets For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2002, 2003, And 2004
- Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation failed to register Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
- Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation audited VALCAPX's 2002, 2003, And 2004 Financial Statements
- Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation issued audit report December 2, 2004 For VALCAPX Financial Statements After October 22, 2003 Deadline
- Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation received $3,600 For Conducting Audit Of VALCAPX Financial Statements
- SEC instituted Administrative Proceedings Against Choi Dow And Ernest E. Dow Pursuant To Section 4C Of Securities Exchange Act Of 1934
- Ernest E. Dow, CPA participated in Auditing VALCAPX's 2002, 2003, And 2004 Financial Statements
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12790
In the Matter of
CHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE
ACCOUNTANCY
CORPORATION and ERNEST
E. DOW, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
AND NOTICE OF HEARING
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that public
administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
against Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation (“Choi Dow”) and Ernest E. Dow,
CPA (“Dow”) (collectively “Respondents”).
II.
After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation is a California corporation
and public accounting firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Choi Dow prepared and
issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004 in connection with its audit of VALCAPX
Acquisition Corp. (“VALCAPX”).
2. Ernest E. Dow, CPA, 58, of Los Angeles, California, is a certified public
accountant licensed in California since 1983. As engagement partner on the VALCAPX
engagement, Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of the December 2, 2004
VALCAPX audit report.
B. OTHER RELEVANT ENTITY
1. VALCAPX is a Nevada corporation based in Los Angeles, California. Its common
stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
VALCAPX reported no revenue and no assets for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and
2004. VALCAPX has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 (the “Act”).
C. FAILURE TO REGISTER WITH THE PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING
OVERSIGHT BOARD
1. Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) prohibits any person
that is not a registered public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”) from preparing or issuing, or participating in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any public reporting company after October 22, 2003.
2. Though Respondents were aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, at no
point did Choi Dow register with the PCAOB as a public accounting firm.
3. Choi Dow audited VALCAPX’s 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004
on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.
4. Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004, which was
included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004
filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.
5. Dow participated in auditing the 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 on
Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.
6. Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated December
2, 2004, which was included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB.
7. Even though Choi Dow had failed to register with the Board, Choi Dow issued, and
Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of, an audit report on the financial statements of
VALCAPX after the October 22, 2003 deadline.
8. As part of the audit, Choi Dow received $3,600 for conducting an audit of the
financial statements of VALCAPX and for issuing an audit report on those statements.
D. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 4C(a) of the Exchange Act 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 by the
2
Commission ... (1) not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others ... or (3) to have
willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities
laws or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.”
2. Rule 102(e)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice provides 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 by the Commission ... (i)
not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others ... or (iii) to have willfully violated ...
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.”
3. 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. Because Choi Dow had not registered with the PCAOB, it lacked “the requisite
qualifications” to issue an audit report dated December 2, 2004.
5. By participating in the preparation or issuance of an audit report after October 22,
2003 by an audit firm that was not registered with the PCAOB, Dow lacked “the requisite
qualifications to represent others.”
6. In violation of Section 102(a) of the Act, Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit
report on the financial statements of a reporting company after October 22, 2003, without first
registering with the Board. In so doing, Choi Dow thus also willfully violated the federal securities
laws.
III.
In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it
necessary and appropriate that public administrative proceedings be instituted to determine:
A. Whether the allegations set forth in Section II are true and, in connection therewith,
to afford Respondents an opportunity to establish any defenses to such allegations;
B. Whether, pursuant to Sections 4C(a)(1) and 4C(a)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rules
102(e)(1)(i) and 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Choi Dow should be censured
by the Commission or temporarily or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing
before the Commission; and
C. Whether, pursuant to Section 4C(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(i) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Dow should be censured by the Commission or temporarily or
permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.
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IV.
IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the questions
set forth in Section III hereof shall be convened at a time and place to be fixed, and before an
Administrative Law Judge to be designated by further order as provided by Rule 110 of the
Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.110.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file an Answer to the allegations
contained in this Order within twenty (20) days after service of this Order, as provided by Rule 220
of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.220.
If Respondents fail to file the directed answer, or fail to appear at a hearing after being duly
notified, the Respondents may be deemed in default and the proceedings may be determined against
them upon consideration of this Order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true as
provided by Rules 155(a), 220(f), 221(f) and 310 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R.
§§ 201.155(a), 201.220(f), 201.221(f) and 201.310.
This Order shall be served forthwith upon Respondents personally or by certified mail.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial
decision no later than 300 days from the date of service of this Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
In the absence of an appropriate waiver, no officer or employee of the Commission engaged
in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions in this or any factually related
proceeding will be permitted to participate or advise in the decision of this matter, except as witness
or counsel in proceedings held pursuant to notice. Since this proceeding is not “rule making” within
the meaning of Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure Act, it is not deemed subject to the
provisions of Section 553 delaying the effective date of any final Commission action.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12790
In the Matter of
CHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE
ACCOUNTANCY
CORPORATION and ERNEST
E. DOW, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
AND NOTICE OF HEARING
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that public
administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
against Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation (“Choi Dow”) and Ernest E. Dow,
CPA (“Dow”) (collectively “Respondents”).
II.
After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation is a California corporation
and public accounting firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Choi Dow prepared and
issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004 in connection with its audit of VALCAPX
Acquisition Corp. (“VALCAPX”).
2. Ernest E. Dow, CPA, 58, of Los Angeles, California, is a certified public
accountant licensed in California since 1983. As engagement partner on the VALCAPX
engagement, Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of the December 2, 2004
VALCAPX audit report.
B. OTHER RELEVANT ENTITY
1. VALCAPX is a Nevada corporation based in Los Angeles, California. Its common
stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
VALCAPX reported no revenue and no assets for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and
2004. VALCAPX has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 (the “Act”).
C. FAILURE TO REGISTER WITH THE PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING
OVERSIGHT BOARD
1. Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) prohibits any person
that is not a registered public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”) from preparing or issuing, or participating in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any public reporting company after October 22, 2003.
2. Though Respondents were aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, at no
point did Choi Dow register with the PCAOB as a public accounting firm.
3. Choi Dow audited VALCAPX’s 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004
on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.
4. Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004, which was
included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004
filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.
5. Dow participated in auditing the 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 on
Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.
6. Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated December
2, 2004, which was included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB.
7. Even though Choi Dow had failed to register with the Board, Choi Dow issued, and
Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of, an audit report on the financial statements of
VALCAPX after the October 22, 2003 deadline.
8. As part of the audit, Choi Dow received $3,600 for conducting an audit of the
financial statements of VALCAPX and for issuing an audit report on those statements.
D. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 4C(a) of the Exchange Act 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 by the
2
Commission … (1) not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others … or (3) to have
willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities
laws or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.”
2. Rule 102(e)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice provides 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 by the Commission ... (i)
not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others … or (iii) to have willfully violated …
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.”
3. 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. Because Choi Dow had not registered with the PCAOB, it lacked “the requisite
qualifications” to issue an audit report dated December 2, 2004.
5. By participating in the preparation or issuance of an audit report after October 22,
2003 by an audit firm that was not registered with the PCAOB, Dow lacked “the requisite
qualifications to represent others.”
6. In violation of Section 102(a) of the Act, Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit
report on the financial statements of a reporting company after October 22, 2003, without first
registering with the Board. In so doing, Choi Dow thus also willfully violated the federal securities
laws.
III.
In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it
necessary and appropriate that public administrative proceedings be instituted to determine:
A. Whether the allegations set forth in Section II are true and, in connection therewith,
to afford Respondents an opportunity to establish any defenses to such allegations;
B. Whether, pursuant to Sections 4C(a)(1) and 4C(a)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rules
102(e)(1)(i) and 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Choi Dow should be censured
by the Commission or temporarily or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing
before the Commission; and
C. Whether, pursuant to Section 4C(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(i) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Dow should be censured by the Commission or temporarily or
permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.
3
IV.
IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the questions
set forth in Section III hereof shall be convened at a time and place to be fixed, and before an
Administrative Law Judge to be designated by further order as provided by Rule 110 of the
Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.110.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file an Answer to the allegations
contained in this Order within twenty (20) days after service of this Order, as provided by Rule 220
of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.220.
If Respondents fail to file the directed answer, or fail to appear at a hearing after being duly
notified, the Respondents may be deemed in default and the proceedings may be determined against
them upon consideration of this Order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true as
provided by Rules 155(a), 220(f), 221(f) and 310 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R.
§§ 201.155(a), 201.220(f), 201.221(f) and 201.310.
This Order shall be served forthwith upon Respondents personally or by certified mail.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial
decision no later than 300 days from the date of service of this Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
In the absence of an appropriate waiver, no officer or employee of the Commission engaged
in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions in this or any factually related
proceeding will be permitted to participate or advise in the decision of this matter, except as witness
or counsel in proceedings held pursuant to notice. Since this proceeding is not “rule making” within
the meaning of Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure Act, it is not deemed subject to the
provisions of Section 553 delaying the effective date of any final Commission action.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
4