2025-02-20 sec-litreleases judgment 74 KB 8,972 chars

SEC v. CHRISTOPHER SLAGA a/k/a KEITH RENKO; Q4 CAPITAL GROUP, LLC; J4 CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC; and HAYDEN GREENE, No. 8:23-cv-01425, Central District of California (Feb. 20, 2025) — Judgment

raw: SEC v. CHRISTOPHER SLAGA a/k/a

SEC v. CHRISTOPHER SLAGA a/k/a, No. 8:23-cv-01425 (Feb. 20, 2025)

Caption
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Christopher Slaga
summary

Q4 Capital Group, LLC entered a consent judgment with the SEC to resolve allegations of securities fraud and unregistered offerings, resulting in a multi-million dollar liability.

paragraph

The court permanently enjoined Q4 Capital Group, LLC from violating Sections 10(b) and 17(a) of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act through fraudulent schemes or unregistered sales. The defendant is liable for $2,808,934.32 in disgorgement of net profits plus $262,495.31 in prejudgment interest. This total judgment of $3,071,429.63 must be paid to the SEC within 30 days.

narrative

The Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a consent judgment against Q4 Capital Group, LLC, involving allegations of securities fraud and unregistered offerings. The defendant, alongside co-defendants Christopher Slaga (a/k/a Keith Renko), J4 Capital Advisors LLC, and Hayden Greene, was subject to permanent injunctions against violating the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933. Specifically, the court prohibited the defendant from employing fraudulent devices, making untrue statements of material fact, and participating in the unregistered sale of securities. Q4 Capital Group, LLC is held liable for $2,808,934.32 in disgorgement and $262,495.31 in prejudgment interest, totaling $3,071,429.63. The defendant consented to the court's jurisdiction and waived its right to appeal the judgment. The total amount is to be paid to the SEC within 30 days for potential distribution to victims.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
unregistered-securities (95%)
Court
Central District of California
Case No.
8:23-cv-01425
Disgorgement
$2,808,934
Classified unregistered-securities(confidence 95%). EDGAR detection: forms Form D/S-1· recall 41% / precision 30%. detection rule →
Statutes
15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)15 U.S.C. § 77q(a)15 U.S.C. § 77h15 U.S.C. § 77t(b)28 U.S.C. § 196117 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange ActSection 17(a) of the Securities ActSections 5(a) and (c) of the Securities ActSection 8 of the Securities ActSection 20(b) of the Securities ActRule 10b-5
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionChristopher Slaga a/k/a Keith RenkoJ4 Capital Advisors, LLCChristopher SlagaHayden GreeneQ4 Capital Group, LLC
Keywords
pagesecuritiescommissionsecurities exchangejwh-dfm documentdocument pagepage pageinterstate commerceregistration statementsecurityexchangeparagraphshallcapitalcv-

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 3
  • $3.07M $3,071,429 $1M–$10M
  • $2.81M $2,808,934 $1M–$10M
  • $262K $262,495 $100K–$1M
Entities 3
  • person general appearance
  • company q4 capital group, llc
  • agency Securities and Exchange Commission
Triples 9
  • Securities and Exchange Commission filed Complaint
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC entered General Appearance
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC consented to Court’s jurisdiction over Defendant
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC consented to entry of this Judgment
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC waived findings of fact and conclusions of law
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC waived any right to appeal from this Judgment
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  • Q4 Capital Group, LLC is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933
  • Document 33 filed on 12/23/24
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
v.
CHRISTOPHER SLAGA a/k/a
KEITH RENKO,
Q4 CAPITAL GROUP, LLC,
J4 CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC, and
HAYDEN GREENE,
Defendants.
   Case   No.   8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFMx
JUDGMENT AS TO DEFENDANT
Q4 CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

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 The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) having
filed a Complaint and Defendant Q4 Capital Group, LLC (“Q4 Capital” or
“Defendant”) having entered a general appearance; consented to the Court’s
jurisdiction over Defendant and the subject matter of this action; consented to
entry of this Judgment; waived findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
waived any right to appeal from this Judgment:
 It is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED as follows:
1. Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED from
violating, directly or indirectly, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the “Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 promulgated
thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5], by using any means or instrumentality of
interstate commerce, or of the mails, or of any facility of any national securities
exchange, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security:
a. to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud;
b. to make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; or
c. to engage in any act, practice, or course of business which
operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person.
2. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual
notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise:
a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and
attorneys; and
b. other persons in active concert or participation with
defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 2(a).

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3. Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED from
violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) [15
U.S.C. § 77q(a)] 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, directly or indirectly:
a. to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud;
b. to obtain money or property by means of any untrue
statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; or
c. to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business
which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser.
4. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual
notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise:
a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and
attorneys; and
b. other persons in active concert or participation with
Defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 4(a).
5. Pursuant to Sections 5(a) and (c) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C.
§§ 77e(a), (c)], Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED
from violating by, directly or indirectly, in the absence of any applicable
exemption:
a. Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security,
making use of any means or instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to sell such
security through the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise;

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b. Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security,
carrying or causing to be carried through the mails or in interstate
commerce, by any means or instruments of transportation, any such
security for the purpose of sale or for delivery after sale; or
c. Making use of any means or instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to offer to sell or
offer to buy through the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise
any security, unless a registration statement has been filed with the
Commission as to such security, or while the registration statement is the
subject of a refusal order or stop order or (prior to the effective date of the
registration statement) any public proceeding or examination under
Section 8 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77h].
6. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual
notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise:
a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and
attorneys; and
b. other persons in active concert or participation with
Defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 6(a).
7. Pursuant to Sections 21(d)(1) and 21(d)(5) of the Exchange Act [15
U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1) and 78u(d)(5)] and Section 20(b) of the Securities Act [15
U.S.C. § 77t(b)], Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED
from directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, through any entity
owned or controlled by it, participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale
of any security.
8. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual
notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise:

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a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and
attorneys; and
b. other persons in active concert or participation with
Defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 8(a).
9. Defendant is liable for disgorgement of $2,808,934.32, jointly and
severally with Defendants Christopher Slaga a/k/a Keith Renko and J4 Capital
Advisors LLC, representing net profits gained as a result of the conduct alleged
in the Complaint, together with prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of
$262,495.31, for a total of $3,071,429.63.  Defendant shall satisfy this obligation
by paying $3,071,429.63 to the Securities and Exchange Commission within
30 days after entry of this Judgment.
10. 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 United States 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; Q4 Capital Group, LLC as a defendant in this
action; and specifying that payment is made pursuant to this Judgment.
11. Defendant shall simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of
payment and case identifying information to the Commission’s counsel in this

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action.  By making this payment, Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable
right, title, and interest in such funds and no part of the funds shall be returned
to Defendant.
12.T
he Commission shall hold the funds (collectively, the “Fund”)
until further order of this Court.  The Commission may propose a plan to
distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval, and the Court shall retain
jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund.
13.T
he Commission may enforce the Court’s Judgment for
disgorgement and prejudgment interest by using all collection procedures
authorized by law, including, but not limited to, moving for civil contempt at any
time after 30 days following entry of this Judgment.  Defendant shall pay post
judgment interest on any amounts due after 30 days of entry of this Judgment
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
14.The Consent is incorporated herein with the same force and effect
as if fully set forth herein, and that Defendant shall comply with all of the
undertakings and agreements set forth therein.
15.This Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes
of enforcing the terms of this Judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
John W. Holcomb
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
December 23, 2024
ohnnnnnWWWWWWW.Holcomb
UNITEDSTATESDISTR

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 
COMMISSION, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CHRISTOPHER SLAGA a/k/a 
KEITH RENKO, 

Q4 CAPITAL GROUP, LLC, 
J4 CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC, and 
HAYDEN GREENE, 

Defendants. 

 Case No. 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFMx 

JUDGMENT AS TO DEFENDANT 
Q4 CAPITAL GROUP, LLC 

Case 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFM     Document 33     Filed 12/23/24     Page 1 of 6   Page ID
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 The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) having 

filed a Complaint and Defendant Q4 Capital Group, LLC (“Q4 Capital” or 

“Defendant”) having entered a general appearance; consented to the Court’s 

jurisdiction over Defendant and the subject matter of this action; consented to 

entry of this Judgment; waived findings of fact and conclusions of law; and 

waived any right to appeal from this Judgment: 

 It is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED as follows: 

1. Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED from 

violating, directly or indirectly, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 

1934 (the “Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 promulgated 

thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5], by using any means or instrumentality of 

interstate commerce, or of the mails, or of any facility of any national securities 

exchange, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security: 

a. to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; 

b. to make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to 

state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in 

the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not 

misleading; or 

c. to engage in any act, practice, or course of business which 

operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person. 

2. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual 

notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise: 

a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and 

attorneys; and 

b. other persons in active concert or participation with 

defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 2(a). 

Case 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFM     Document 33     Filed 12/23/24     Page 2 of 6   Page ID
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3. Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED from 

violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) [15 

U.S.C. § 77q(a)] 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, directly or indirectly: 

a. to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud; 

b. to obtain money or property by means of any untrue 

statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary in 

order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under 

which they were made, not misleading; or 

c. to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business 

which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. 

4. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual 

notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise: 

a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and 

attorneys; and 

b. other persons in active concert or participation with 

Defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 4(a). 

5. Pursuant to Sections 5(a) and (c) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. 

§§ 77e(a), (c)], Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED 

from violating by, directly or indirectly, in the absence of any applicable 

exemption: 

a. Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security, 

making use of any means or instruments of transportation or 

communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to sell such 

security through the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise; 

Case 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFM     Document 33     Filed 12/23/24     Page 3 of 6   Page ID
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b. Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a security, 

carrying or causing to be carried through the mails or in interstate 

commerce, by any means or instruments of transportation, any such 

security for the purpose of sale or for delivery after sale; or 

c. Making use of any means or instruments of transportation or 

communication in interstate commerce or of the mails to offer to sell or 

offer to buy through the use or medium of any prospectus or otherwise 

any security, unless a registration statement has been filed with the 

Commission as to such security, or while the registration statement is the 

subject of a refusal order or stop order or (prior to the effective date of the 

registration statement) any public proceeding or examination under 

Section 8 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77h]. 

6. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual 

notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise: 

a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and 

attorneys; and 

b. other persons in active concert or participation with 

Defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 6(a). 

7. Pursuant to Sections 21(d)(1) and 21(d)(5) of the Exchange Act [15 

U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1) and 78u(d)(5)] and Section 20(b) of the Securities Act [15 

U.S.C. § 77t(b)], Defendant is permanently RESTRAINED and ENJOINED 

from directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, through any entity 

owned or controlled by it, participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale 

of any security. 

8. As provided in Rule 65(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, the foregoing Paragraph also binds the following who receive actual 

notice of this Judgment by personal service or otherwise: 

Case 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFM     Document 33     Filed 12/23/24     Page 4 of 6   Page ID
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a. Defendant’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and 

attorneys; and 

b. other persons in active concert or participation with 

Defendant or with anyone described in Paragraph 8(a). 

9. Defendant is liable for disgorgement of $2,808,934.32, jointly and 

severally with Defendants Christopher Slaga a/k/a Keith Renko and J4 Capital 

Advisors LLC, representing net profits gained as a result of the conduct alleged 

in the Complaint, together with prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of 

$262,495.31, for a total of $3,071,429.63.  Defendant shall satisfy this obligation 

by paying $3,071,429.63 to the Securities and Exchange Commission within 

30 days after entry of this Judgment. 

10. 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 United States 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; Q4 Capital Group, LLC as a defendant in this 

action; and specifying that payment is made pursuant to this Judgment. 

11. Defendant shall simultaneously transmit photocopies of evidence of 

payment and case identifying information to the Commission’s counsel in this 

Case 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFM     Document 33     Filed 12/23/24     Page 5 of 6   Page ID
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action.  By making this payment, Defendant relinquishes all legal and equitable 

right, title, and interest in such funds and no part of the funds shall be returned 

to Defendant. 

12. The Commission shall hold the funds (collectively, the “Fund”)

until further order of this Court.  The Commission may propose a plan to 

distribute the Fund subject to the Court’s approval, and the Court shall retain 

jurisdiction over the administration of any distribution of the Fund.

13. The Commission may enforce the Court’s Judgment for

disgorgement and prejudgment interest by using all collection procedures 

authorized by law, including, but not limited to, moving for civil contempt at any 

time after 30 days following entry of this Judgment.  Defendant shall pay post 

judgment interest on any amounts due after 30 days of entry of this Judgment

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.

14. The Consent is incorporated herein with the same force and effect

as if fully set forth herein, and that Defendant shall comply with all of the 

undertakings and agreements set forth therein.

15. This Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes

of enforcing the terms of this Judgment. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:
John W. Holcomb
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

December 23, 2024
ohnnnnn WWWWWWW. Holcomb

UNITED STATES DISTR

Case 8:23-cv-01425-JWH-DFM     Document 33     Filed 12/23/24     Page 6 of 6   Page ID
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