2020-06-11 sec-litreleases pdf 128 KB 4,562 chars

In re ANTHONY VASSALLO

Exhibit of PowerTradersPress.com, Inc., et al.
Source PDF JSON
summary

Anthony Vassallo was barred from the securities industry after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud involving artificial trading volume in penny stocks.

paragraph

Anthony Vassallo admitted to generating artificial trading volume for CES Synergies, Inc. (CESX) to persuade investors to purchase stock at inflated prices. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in federal court. Consequently, the SEC barred him from associating with brokers, dealers, and investment advisers, and prohibited him from participating in any penny stock offerings.

narrative

From September 2013 to July 2017, Anthony Vassallo solicited the sale of CES Synergies, Inc. (CESX) securities while acting as an associated person to an unregistered broker. He admitted to conspiring with others to create artificial trading volume and making calls to unsuspecting investors to induce them to buy stock at artificially high prices. In December 2019, Vassallo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in the Eastern District of New York. As a result of these actions, the SEC imposed remedial sanctions through an administrative order. Vassallo is now barred from associating with brokers, dealers, investment advisers, and various other financial entities. Additionally, he is prohibited from participating in any penny stock offerings, including acting as a promoter or agent. Any future reentry into the industry remains subject to compliance with the order and the payment of any potential disgorgement or penalties.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
market-manipulation (90%)
Court
Eastern District of New York
Outcome
pleaded · 2019-12-14
Classified market-manipulation(confidence 90%). EDGAR detection: forms SC 13D/G/13F· recall 53% / precision 9%. detection rule →
Statutes
SECTION 15(b) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionAnthony Vassallo
Keywords
commissionrespondentsecurities exchangesecuritiesexchangeordervassalloanthony vassallopenny stockcommission orderproceedingspursuantstockadministrative proceedingspursuant securities

Extracted insights

Entities 5
  • person anthony vassallo
  • person respondent vassallo
  • agency Securities and Exchange Commission
  • agency the securities and exchange commission
  • scheme_term to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud
Triples 42
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission deems it appropriate public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted
  • Respondent submitted an Offer of Settlement which the Commission has determined to accept
  • Respondent admits the Commission’s jurisdiction over him and the subject matter of these proceedings
  • Respondent consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions
  • Respondent solicited the offer and sale of the securities of CES Synergies, Inc. (CESX), which is a penny stock, to individual investors
  • Respondent acted as an associated person to an unregistered broker
  • Respondent pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371
  • The Court is scheduled to sentence the Respondent on March 20, 2020
  • Respondent admitted that he, in concert with others generated artificial trading volume in certain stock, including CESX
  • Respondent made phone calls to unknowing investors to persuade them to purchase that stock at artificially high prices
  • The Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions agreed to in Respondent Vassallo’s Offer
  • Respondent Vassallo be barred from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally recognized statistical rating organization
  • Respondent Vassallo be barred from participating in any offering of a penny stock, including: acting as a promoter, finder, consultant, agent or other person who engages in activities with a broker, dealer or issuer for purposes of the issuance or trading in any penny stock, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of any penny stock
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission deems it appropriate public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted
  • Respondent submitted an Offer of Settlement which the Commission has determined to accept
  • Respondent admits the Commission’s jurisdiction over him and the subject matter of these proceedings
  • Respondent consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions
  • Respondent solicited the offer and sale of the securities of CES Synergies, Inc. (CESX), which is a penny stock, to individual investors
  • Respondent acted as an associated person to an unregistered broker
  • Respondent pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371
  • The Court is scheduled to sentence the Respondent on March 20, 2020
  • Respondent admitted that he, in concert with others generated artificial trading volume in certain stock, including CESX
  • Respondent made phone calls to unknowing investors to persuade them to purchase that stock at artificially high prices
  • The Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions agreed to in Respondent Vassallo’s Offer
  • Respondent Vassallo be barred from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally recognized statistical rating organization
  • Respondent Vassallo be barred from participating in any offering of a penny stock, including: acting as a promoter, finder, consultant, agent or other person who engages in activities with a broker, dealer or issuer for purposes of the issuance or trading in any penny stock, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of any penny stock
  • Anthony Vassallo solicited the offer and sale the securities of CES Synergies, Inc. (CESX) to individual investors
  • Anthony Vassallo pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud
  • Anthony Vassallo admitted that he generated artificial trading volume in CESX and persuaded unknowing investors to buy at artificially high prices
  • Securities and Exchange Commission barred Anthony Vassallo from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, or similar entity
  • Securities and Exchange Commission barred Anthony Vassallo from participating in any offering of a penny stock
  • Anthony Vassallo solicited securities of CES Synergies, Inc.
  • Anthony Vassallo pled guilty conspiracy to commit securities fraud
  • Anthony Vassallo admitted generating artificial trading volume
  • Commission instituted administrative proceedings against Anthony Vassallo
  • Commission accepted Offer of Settlement from Anthony Vassallo
  • Anthony Vassallo is barred from association with any broker
  • Anthony Vassallo is barred from participating in any offering of a penny stock
  • Respondent will be subject to reentry process
  • Anthony Vassallo acted as associated person to an unregistered broker
  • CES Synergies, Inc. is a penny stock
  • United States District Court scheduled to sentence Anthony Vassallo
PDF
In re ANTHONY VASSALLO · Source
Text layers
Extracted body text (4,562c) 

 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 Before the 
 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
Release No. 88652 / April 15, 2020 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-19748 
 
 
 
 
In the Matter of 
 
ANTHONY VASSALLO,   
 
Respondent. 
 
 
 
 
ORDER INSTITUTING  
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS 
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(b) OF THE 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, 
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING 
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS 
 
 
 
 
I. 
 
 The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate and in the 
public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to 
Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) against Anthony Vassallo 
(“Respondent”).   
 
II. 
 
 In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer 
of Settlement (the “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, Respondent admits the Commission’s 
jurisdiction over him and the subject matter of these proceedings, and the findings contained in 
paragraph III.2 below, and consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Administrative 
Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, 
and Imposing Remedial Sanctions (“Order”), as set forth below.   

 
2 
III. 
 
 On the basis of this Order and Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds that:  
 
1. From approximately September 2013 to July 2017, Respondent solicited the offer 
and sale of the securities of CES Synergies, Inc. (“CESX”), which is a penny stock, to individual 
investors while acting as an associated person to an unregistered broker.  Respondent, 56 years old, 
is a resident of Smithtown, New York. 
 
2. On December 14, 2019, Respondent pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to 
commit securities fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, before the United 
States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, in United States v. Chartier, et al., No. 
17-cr-00372-JS-GRB.  The Court is scheduled to sentence the Respondent on March 20, 2020. 
 
3. In connection with that plea, Respondent admitted that he, in concert with others, 
generated artificial trading volume in certain stock, including CESX, and then made phone calls to 
unknowing investors to persuade them to purchase that stock at artificially high prices.    
 
IV. 
 
 In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest to 
impose the sanctions agreed to in Respondent Vassallo’s Offer. 
 
 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, 
that Respondent Vassallo be, and hereby is barred from association with any broker, dealer, 
investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally 
recognized statistical rating organization; and 
 
 Pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, Respondent Vassallo be, and hereby is 
barred from participating in any offering of a penny stock, including: acting as a promoter, finder, 
consultant, agent or other person who engages in activities with a broker, dealer or issuer for 
purposes of the issuance or trading in any penny stock, or inducing or attempting to induce the 
purchase or sale of any penny stock. 
 
Any reapplication for association by the Respondent will be subject to the applicable laws 
and regulations governing the reentry process, and reentry may be conditioned upon a number of 
factors, including, but not limited to, compliance with the Commission’s order and payment of any 
or all of the following:  (a) any disgorgement or civil penalties ordered by a Court against the 
Respondent in any action brought by the Commission; (b) any disgorgement amounts ordered 
against the Respondent for which the Commission waived payment; (c) any arbitration award  

 
3 
related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order; (d) any self-regulatory 
organization arbitration award to a customer, whether or not related to the conduct that served as 
the basis for the Commission order; and (e) any restitution order by a self-regulatory organization, 
whether or not related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order. 
 
 For the Commission, by its Secretary, pursuant to delegated authority. 
 
 
 
 
Vanessa A. Countryman 
Secretary
OCR text (4,652c · tika · 95% conf) 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

 Before the 

 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

 

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

Release No. 88652 / April 15, 2020 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 

File No. 3-19748 

 

 

 

 

In the Matter of 

 

ANTHONY VASSALLO,   

 

Respondent. 

 

 

 

 

ORDER INSTITUTING  

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(b) OF THE 

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, 

MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING 

REMEDIAL SANCTIONS 

 

 

 

 

I. 

 

 The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate and in the 

public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to 

Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) against Anthony Vassallo 

(“Respondent”).   

 

II. 

 

 In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer 

of Settlement (the “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, Respondent admits the Commission’s 

jurisdiction over him and the subject matter of these proceedings, and the findings contained in 

paragraph III.2 below, and consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Administrative 

Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, 

and Imposing Remedial Sanctions (“Order”), as set forth below.   



 2 

III. 

 

 On the basis of this Order and Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds that:  

 

1. From approximately September 2013 to July 2017, Respondent solicited the offer 

and sale of the securities of CES Synergies, Inc. (“CESX”), which is a penny stock, to individual 

investors while acting as an associated person to an unregistered broker.  Respondent, 56 years old, 

is a resident of Smithtown, New York. 

 

2. On December 14, 2019, Respondent pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to 

commit securities fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, before the United 

States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, in United States v. Chartier, et al., No. 

17-cr-00372-JS-GRB.  The Court is scheduled to sentence the Respondent on March 20, 2020. 

 

3. In connection with that plea, Respondent admitted that he, in concert with others, 

generated artificial trading volume in certain stock, including CESX, and then made phone calls to 

unknowing investors to persuade them to purchase that stock at artificially high prices.    

 

IV. 

 

 In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest to 

impose the sanctions agreed to in Respondent Vassallo’s Offer. 

 

 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, 

that Respondent Vassallo be, and hereby is barred from association with any broker, dealer, 

investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally 

recognized statistical rating organization; and 

 

 Pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, Respondent Vassallo be, and hereby is 

barred from participating in any offering of a penny stock, including: acting as a promoter, finder, 

consultant, agent or other person who engages in activities with a broker, dealer or issuer for 

purposes of the issuance or trading in any penny stock, or inducing or attempting to induce the 

purchase or sale of any penny stock. 

 

Any reapplication for association by the Respondent will be subject to the applicable laws 

and regulations governing the reentry process, and reentry may be conditioned upon a number of 

factors, including, but not limited to, compliance with the Commission’s order and payment of any 

or all of the following:  (a) any disgorgement or civil penalties ordered by a Court against the 

Respondent in any action brought by the Commission; (b) any disgorgement amounts ordered 

against the Respondent for which the Commission waived payment; (c) any arbitration award  



 3 

related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order; (d) any self-regulatory 

organization arbitration award to a customer, whether or not related to the conduct that served as 

the basis for the Commission order; and (e) any restitution order by a self-regulatory organization, 

whether or not related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order. 

 

 For the Commission, by its Secretary, pursuant to delegated authority. 

 

 

 

 

Vanessa A. Countryman 

Secretary