SEC v. WILLIE J. GAULT
raw: Final Judgment Against Willie J Gault Imposing Injunction And Penalty
Final Judgment Against Willie J Gault Imposing Injunction And Penalty, No. 8:11-cv-01962 (Apr. 15, 2016)
Willie J. Gault, former executive of Heart Tronics, Inc., was found liable for securities fraud, internal controls violations, and false certifications, and ordered to pay $128,570.58 in disgorgement and interest plus a $78,000 civil penalty, while being permanently barred from serving as an officer or director of any SEC-registered company.
Willie J. Gault was held liable for violating Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act, Section 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 13a-14 by engaging in fraudulent conduct and falsifying financial records at Heart Tronics, Inc. The court ordered him to disgorge $101,000 in ill-gotten gains plus $27,570.58 in prejudgment interest, totaling $128,570.58, and to pay a $78,000 civil penalty, both due within 14 days to the SEC. He is permanently enjoined from future securities law violations and barred from serving as an officer or director of any public company, with the possibility of reinstatement upon demonstrating rehabilitation.
Willie J. Gault, a former executive of Heart Tronics, Inc., was found liable by a jury for securities fraud under Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act, knowingly circumventing internal accounting controls under Section 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act, and filing false certifications under Rule 13a-14. The court issued a final judgment imposing permanent injunctions against Gault, barring him from future violations of these provisions and from acting as an officer or director of any SEC-registered issuer, with the possibility of lifting the bar if he demonstrates rehabilitation and compliance with securities laws. Gault was ordered to disgorge $101,000 in ill-gotten gains, plus $27,570.58 in prejudgment interest, for a total of $128,570.58, which must be paid to the SEC within 14 days for potential distribution to harmed investors or transfer to the U.S. Treasury if undistributed. He must also pay a $78,000 civil penalty, which is to be remitted directly to the U.S. Treasury. Payment may be made electronically via Pay.gov, ACH transfer, or by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or postal money order. The court retains jurisdiction to enforce compliance, address future motions, and impose post-judgment interest if payment is delayed. All remaining claims against Gault were dismissed with prejudice.
Extracted insights
- $129K $128,570 $100K–$1M
- $101K $101,000 $100K–$1M
- $78K $78,000 $10K–$100K
- $28K $27,570 $10K–$100K
- organization Court
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- organization Securities and Exchange Commission
- The Court grant Plaintiff’s Motion for Order on Remedies and Final Judgment as to Defendant Gault
- The Court impose permanent injunctions and other equitable relief, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty
- The Court order Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933
- The Court order Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 13(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
- The Court order Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act
- The Court enjoin Defendant Gault from acting as an officer or director of any issuer that has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or that is required to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION charged WILLIE J. GAULT with violating Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933
- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION charged WILLIE J. GAULT with violating Section 13(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION charged WILLIE J. GAULT with violating Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act
- Court ordered WILLIE J. GAULT to be permanently enjoined from violating Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act
- Court ordered WILLIE J. GAULT to be permanently enjoined from violating Section 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act
- Court ordered WILLIE J. GAULT to be permanently enjoined from violating Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act
- Court ordered WILLIE J. GAULT to be permanently enjoined from acting as an officer or director of any issuer with securities registered under Section 12 or required to file under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
vs.
HEART TRONICS, INC., MITCHELL
JAY STEIN, WILLIE JAMES GAULT,
J.
ROWLAND PERKINS, II, MARTIN
BERT CARTER, MARK CROSBY
NEVDAHL, and RYAN ALLAN
RAUCH,
Defendants,
TRACEY HAMPTON-STEIN, ARC
FINANCE GROUP, LLC, ARC BLIND
TRUST, THS BLIND TRUST, JAYMI
BLIND TRUST, OAK TREE
INVESTMENTS BLIND TRUST, WBT
INVESTMENTS BLIND TRUST,
CATCH 83 GENERAL PARTNERSHIP,
and FIVE INVESTMENTS
PARTNERSHIP,
Relief Defendants.
Case No. SACV11-1962-JVS(ANx)
FINAL JUDGMENT AGAINST
DEFENDANT WILLIE J. GAULT
IMPOSING PERMANENT
INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER
EQUITABLE RELIEF,
DISGORGEMENT WITH
PREJUDGMENT INTEREST,
AND A CIVIL PENALTY
Consistent with the Jury’s Verdict Against Defendant Willie J. Gault as to
Claims Four, Six and Seven (Docket No. 255) and the Court’s Order Granting
Plaintiff’s Motion for Order on Remedies and Final Judgment as to Defendant
Gault (Docket No. 385):
I.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in
active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this
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Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and
enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)(3)] in the offer or sale of any
security by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails to engage in any
transaction, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a
fraud or deceit upon the purchaser.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED THAT
Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in
active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this
Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and
enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 13(b)(5) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78m(b)(5)] by knowingly
circumventing or failing to implement a system of internal accounting controls or
knowingly falsifying any book, record, or account described in Section 13(b)(2) of
the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78m(b)(2)].
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in
active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this
Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and
enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act
[17 C.F.R. § 240.13a-14] by filing or causing to be filed any certification that is
false or misleading.
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
pursuant to the Court’s inherent authority to fashion appropriate equitable relief in
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this matter, and Section 21(d)(5) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S. Code § 78u] for
the benefit of investors, Defendant Gault is permanently enjoined from acting as
an officer or director of any issuer that has a class of securities registered pursuant
to Section 12 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78l] or that is required to file
reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78o(d)]. The
Court retains jurisdiction for the purpose of withdrawing the bar imposed by this
paragraph upon a proper showing by Gault that he is rehabilitated and fit to serve
as an officer or director. In particular, upon notice to the Commission, Gault may
move the Court to lift this bar by affirmatively demonstrating that he has made
himself knowledgeable of the requirements of the securities laws imposed on
officers and directors and that he has otherwise become competent and fit to serve
as an officer or director. The Court will consider and decide such a motion after
providing the Commission a reasonable opportunity to respond and holding any
evidentiary hearing that may be appropriate to aid in deciding the motion.
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault is liable for disgorgement of $101,000, representing ill-gotten
gains causally connected to his involvement in the defrauding of an investor,
together with prejudgment interest in the amount of $27,570.58. Defendant shall
satisfy this obligation by paying $128,570.58 to the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 14 days after entry of this Judgment. Defendant may transmit
payment electronically to the Commission, which will provide detailed ACH
transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request. Payment may also be made directly
from a bank account via Pay.gov through the SEC website at
http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm. Defendant may also pay by certified
check, bank cashier’s check, or U.S. postal money order payable to the Securities
and Exchange Commission, which shall be delivered or mailed to:
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Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
and shall be accompanied by a letter identifying the case title, civil action number,
and name of this Court; Willie J. Gault as a defendant in this action; and
specifying that payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment. Defendant shall
simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case identifying
information to the Commission’s counsel of record. By making this payment,
Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such
funds and no part of them shall be returned to Defendant.
The Commission shall hold the funds (collectively, the “Fund”) and may
propose a plan to distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval. The Court
shall retain jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund. If
the Commission staff determines that the Fund will not be distributed, the
Commission shall send the Fund to the United States Treasury.
The Commission may enforce the Court’s judgment for disgorgement and
prejudgment interest by moving for civil contempt (and/or through other
collection procedures authorized by law) at any time after 14 days following entry
of this Final Judgment. Defendant shall pay post judgment interest on any
delinquent amounts pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
VI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault shall pay civil penalties in the amount of $78,000, pursuant to
Section 20 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)(2)] and Section 21 of the
Exchange Act[15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)]. Gault shall satisfy this obligation by making
this payment to the Securities and Exchange Commission within 14 days after entry
of this Judgment. He may transmit payment electronically to the Commission,
which will provide detailed ACH transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request.
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Payment may also be made directly from a bank account via Pay.gov through the
SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm. Defendant may also
pay by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or U.S. postal money order payable to
the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shall be delivered or mailed to:
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
and shall be accompanied by a letter identifying the case title, civil action number,
and name of this Court; Willie J. Gault as a defendant in this action; and specifying
that payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment. Defendant shall
simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case identifying
information to the Commission’s counsel of record. By making this payment,
Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such funds
and no part of them shall be returned to Defendant.
The Commission shall send the civil penalty amount paid pursuant to this
paragraph to the United States Treasury. Defendant shall pay post-judgment
interest on any delinquent amounts pursuant to 28 USC § 1961.
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that this
Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes of enforcing the
terms of this Judgment and all order and decrees which may be entered herein,
and to entertain any suitable application or motion for additional relief within the
jurisdiction of this Court.
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, there
being no just reason for delay, pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the Clerk of the Court is ordered to enter this Judgment forthwith and
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without further notice. Any remaining claims against the Defendant are dismissed
with prejudice pursuant to Rule 42(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Dated: April 14, 2016 ____________________________
HONORABLE JAMES V. SELNA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE1
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Case 8:11-cv-01962-JVS-AN Document 387 Filed 04/14/16 Page 1 of 6 Page ID #:8445
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
vs.
HEART TRONICS, INC., MITCHELL
JAY STEIN, WILLIE JAMES GAULT,
J. ROWLAND PERKINS, II, MARTIN
BERT CARTER, MARK CROSBY
NEVDAHL, and RYAN ALLAN
RAUCH,
Defendants,
TRACEY HAMPTON-STEIN, ARC
FINANCE GROUP, LLC, ARC BLIND
TRUST, THS BLIND TRUST, JAYMI
BLIND TRUST, OAK TREE
INVESTMENTS BLIND TRUST, WBT
INVESTMENTS BLIND TRUST,
CATCH 83 GENERAL PARTNERSHIP,
and FIVE INVESTMENTS
PARTNERSHIP,
Relief Defendants.
Case No. SACV11-1962-JVS(ANx)
FINAL JUDGMENT AGAINST
DEFENDANT WILLIE J. GAULT
IMPOSING PERMANENT
INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER
EQUITABLE RELIEF,
DISGORGEMENT WITH
PREJUDGMENT INTEREST,
AND A CIVIL PENALTY
Consistent with the Jury’s Verdict Against Defendant Willie J. Gault as to
Claims Four, Six and Seven (Docket No. 255) and the Court’s Order Granting
Plaintiff’s Motion for Order on Remedies and Final Judgment as to Defendant
Gault (Docket No. 385):
I.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in
active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this
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Case 8:11-cv-01962-JVS-AN Document 387 Filed 04/14/16 Page 2 of 6 Page ID #:8446
Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and
enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)(3)] in the offer or sale of any
security by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails to engage in any
transaction, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a
fraud or deceit upon the purchaser.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED THAT
Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in
active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this
Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and
enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 13(b)(5) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78m(b)(5)] by knowingly
circumventing or failing to implement a system of internal accounting controls or
knowingly falsifying any book, record, or account described in Section 13(b)(2) of
the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78m(b)(2)].
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault and his agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons in
active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of this
Judgment by personal service or otherwise are permanently restrained and
enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act
[17 C.F.R. § 240.13a-14] by filing or causing to be filed any certification that is
false or misleading.
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
pursuant to the Court’s inherent authority to fashion appropriate equitable relief in
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Case 8:11-cv-01962-JVS-AN Document 387 Filed 04/14/16 Page 3 of 6 Page ID #:8447
this matter, and Section 21(d)(5) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S. Code § 78u] for
the benefit of investors, Defendant Gault is permanently enjoined from acting as
an officer or director of any issuer that has a class of securities registered pursuant
to Section 12 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78l] or that is required to file
reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78o(d)]. The
Court retains jurisdiction for the purpose of withdrawing the bar imposed by this
paragraph upon a proper showing by Gault that he is rehabilitated and fit to serve
as an officer or director. In particular, upon notice to the Commission, Gault may
move the Court to lift this bar by affirmatively demonstrating that he has made
himself knowledgeable of the requirements of the securities laws imposed on
officers and directors and that he has otherwise become competent and fit to serve
as an officer or director. The Court will consider and decide such a motion after
providing the Commission a reasonable opportunity to respond and holding any
evidentiary hearing that may be appropriate to aid in deciding the motion.
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault is liable for disgorgement of $101,000, representing ill-gotten
gains causally connected to his involvement in the defrauding of an investor,
together with prejudgment interest in the amount of $27,570.58. Defendant shall
satisfy this obligation by paying $128,570.58 to the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 14 days after entry of this Judgment. Defendant may transmit
payment electronically to the Commission, which will provide detailed ACH
transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request. Payment may also be made directly
from a bank account via Pay.gov through the SEC website at
http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm. Defendant may also pay by certified
check, bank cashier’s check, or U.S. postal money order payable to the Securities
and Exchange Commission, which shall be delivered or mailed to:
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http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm
http:128,570.58
http:27,570.58
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Case 8:11-cv-01962-JVS-AN Document 387 Filed 04/14/16 Page 4 of 6 Page ID #:8448
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
and shall be accompanied by a letter identifying the case title, civil action number,
and name of this Court; Willie J. Gault as a defendant in this action; and
specifying that payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment. Defendant shall
simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case identifying
information to the Commission’s counsel of record. By making this payment,
Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such
funds and no part of them shall be returned to Defendant.
The Commission shall hold the funds (collectively, the “Fund”) and may
propose a plan to distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval. The Court
shall retain jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund. If
the Commission staff determines that the Fund will not be distributed, the
Commission shall send the Fund to the United States Treasury.
The Commission may enforce the Court’s judgment for disgorgement and
prejudgment interest by moving for civil contempt (and/or through other
collection procedures authorized by law) at any time after 14 days following entry
of this Final Judgment. Defendant shall pay post judgment interest on any
delinquent amounts pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
VI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
Defendant Gault shall pay civil penalties in the amount of $78,000, pursuant to
Section 20 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)(2)] and Section 21 of the
Exchange Act[15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)]. Gault shall satisfy this obligation by making
this payment to the Securities and Exchange Commission within 14 days after entry
of this Judgment. He may transmit payment electronically to the Commission,
which will provide detailed ACH transfer/Fedwire instructions upon request.
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Case 8:11-cv-01962-JVS-AN Document 387 Filed 04/14/16 Page 5 of 6 Page ID #:8449
Payment may also be made directly from a bank account via Pay.gov through the
SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm. Defendant may also
pay by certified check, bank cashier’s check, or U.S. postal money order payable to
the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shall be delivered or mailed to:
Enterprise Services Center
Accounts Receivable Branch
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
and shall be accompanied by a letter identifying the case title, civil action number,
and name of this Court; Willie J. Gault as a defendant in this action; and specifying
that payment is made pursuant to this Final Judgment. Defendant shall
simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of payment and case identifying
information to the Commission’s counsel of record. By making this payment,
Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in such funds
and no part of them shall be returned to Defendant.
The Commission shall send the civil penalty amount paid pursuant to this
paragraph to the United States Treasury. Defendant shall pay post-judgment
interest on any delinquent amounts pursuant to 28 USC § 1961.
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that this
Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes of enforcing the
terms of this Judgment and all order and decrees which may be entered herein,
and to entertain any suitable application or motion for additional relief within the
jurisdiction of this Court.
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, there
being no just reason for delay, pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the Clerk of the Court is ordered to enter this Judgment forthwith and
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http://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ofm.htm
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Case 8:11-cv-01962-JVS-AN Document 387 Filed 04/14/16 Page 6 of 6 Page ID #:8450
without further notice. Any remaining claims against the Defendant are dismissed
with prejudice pursuant to Rule 42(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Dated: April 14, 2016 ____________________________
HONORABLE JAMES V. SELNA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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