SEC v. PowerTradersPress.com, Inc.; Ronald Hardy; Anthony Vassallo; and Sergio Ramirez, No. LR-24834, Eastern District of New York (June 11, 2020) — Press Release

U.S Securities and Exchange Commission SEC Settles with Three Defendants in Boiler Room Scheme Litigation Release No. 24834 / June 11, 2020 Securities and Exchange Commission v. PowerTradersPress.com, Inc., et al., No. 17 Civ. 04133 (E.D.N.Y. filed July 12, 2017) United States v. Jeffrey Chartier, et al., No. 17 cr 00372 (E.D.N.Y. filed July 11, 2017) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has obtained final judgments by consent against three individuals charged for their roles in a $10 million boiler room scheme. The SEC's complaint, filed on July 12, 2017, alleged that Ronald Hardy and Anthony Vassallo, through boiler rooms they controlled, and together with Sergio Ramirez and other employees, engaged in a fraudulent scheme using threatening and deceitful sales tactics to pressure retail investors to purchase penny stocks. The defendants used information they learned about the victims' purchase orders to facilitate the placement of opposing sell orders to dump shares owned by participants in the fraudulent scheme. In a parallel criminal action, Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez pleaded guilty. Hardy was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years' supervised release. Vassallo and Ramirez are awaiting sentencing. The final judgments enjoin Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez from violating the antifraud provisions of 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, and the broker-dealer registration provision of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act, and enjoin Vassallo from violating the market manipulation provisions of Section 9(a) of the Exchange Act. The final judgments order Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez to disgorge $2,212,946, $2,446,137, and $251,615 respectively, plus prejudgment interest, which is deemed satisfied by the forfeiture and restitution ordered in the parallel criminal action. The judgments also impose penny stock bars. In settled administrative proceedings, Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez, were previously barred from the securities industry. The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Cecilia B. Connor and Andrew Elliott and supervised by Carolyn M. Welshhans and Amy L. Friedman, with assistance from Leigh Barrett. The SEC's litigation is being handled by James Smith and Matthew Scarlato and supervised by Jan Folena. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

U.S Securities and Exchange Commission SEC Settles with Three Defendants in Boiler Room Scheme Litigation Release No. 24834 / June 11, 2020 Securities and Exchange Commission v. PowerTradersPress.com, Inc., et al., No. 17 Civ. 04133 (E.D.N.Y. filed July 12, 2017) United States v. Jeffrey Chartier, et al., No. 17 cr 00372 (E.D.N.Y. filed July 11, 2017) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has obtained final judgments by consent against three individuals charged for their roles in a $10 million boiler room scheme. The SEC's complaint, filed on July 12, 2017, alleged that Ronald Hardy and Anthony Vassallo, through boiler rooms they controlled, and together with Sergio Ramirez and other employees, engaged in a fraudulent scheme using threatening and deceitful sales tactics to pressure retail investors to purchase penny stocks. The defendants used information they learned about the victims' purchase orders to facilitate the placement of opposing sell orders to dump shares owned by participants in the fraudulent scheme. In a parallel criminal action, Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez pleaded guilty. Hardy was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years' supervised release. Vassallo and Ramirez are awaiting sentencing. The final judgments enjoin Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez from violating the antifraud provisions of 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, and the broker-dealer registration provision of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act, and enjoin Vassallo from violating the market manipulation provisions of Section 9(a) of the Exchange Act. The final judgments order Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez to disgorge $2,212,946, $2,446,137, and $251,615 respectively, plus prejudgment interest, which is deemed satisfied by the forfeiture and restitution ordered in the parallel criminal action. The judgments also impose penny stock bars. In settled administrative proceedings, Hardy, Vassallo, and Ramirez, were previously barred from the securities industry. The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Cecilia B. Connor and Andrew Elliott and supervised by Carolyn M. Welshhans and Amy L. Friedman, with assistance from Leigh Barrett. The SEC's litigation is being handled by James Smith and Matthew Scarlato and supervised by Jan Folena. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.