SEC v. James S. Quay; and Jeffrey A. Quay, No. LR-22506, Northern District of Georgia (Oct. 4, 2012) — Press Release
raw: James S. Quay and Jeffrey A. Quay
James S. Quay and Jeffrey A. Quay, No. 1:12-cv-03429-RWS (Oct. 4, 2012)
James S. Quay, an unlicensed financial advisor, defrauded two elderly women out of $560,000 in a sham covered-call equities trading program and agreed to settle SEC charges, paying $1.4 million in disgorgement, $179,000 in prejudgment interest, and a $450,000 penalty.
James S. Quay and his brother Jeffrey A. Quay allegedly defrauded two elderly women who invested $560,000 in a sham covered-call equities trading program. The Quays misused at least $180,000 of the investors' money for personal expenses. Quay agreed to settle the SEC's charges, consenting to pay $1,403,638.62 in disgorgement, $179,118.78 in prejudgment interest, and a $450,000 penalty.
James S. Quay, an unlicensed financial advisor, and his brother Jeffrey A. Quay allegedly defrauded two elderly women who invested $560,000 in a sham covered-call equities trading program. The Quays created a non-existent entity, Trinity Charitable Solutions, to purportedly operate the program, but instead misused at least $180,000 of the investors' money for personal expenses. Quay, a convicted felon and disbarred attorney, concealed his criminal history and fabricated credentials, using deceptive dinner seminars and a polished office to gain trust. He had previously earned $1.4 million in illicit commissions from other fraudulent schemes. Quay agreed to settle the SEC's charges without admitting or denying guilt, consenting to a permanent injunction, $1.4 million in disgorgement, $179,000 in prejudgment interest, and a $450,000 penalty. He will also be permanently barred from association with various financial institutions and barred from appearing or practicing before the SEC. The settlement is subject to court approval, and the SEC's litigation against Jeffrey Quay remains pending.
Exhibits & Attached Documents (1)
Extracted insights
- $1.40M $1,403,638 $1M–$10M
- $1.40M $1.4 million $1M–$10M
- $560K $560,000 $100K–$1M
- $450K $450,000 $100K–$1M
- $180K $180,000 $100K–$1M
- $179K $179,118 $100K–$1M
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- organization Securities and Exchange Commission
- James S. Quay defrauded investors two elderly women he convinced to invest with him directly
- Securities and Exchange Commission charged James S. Quay for defrauding investors in Atlanta area
Litigation Release No. 22506 / October 4, 2012 Securities and Exchange Commission v. James S. Quay and Jeffrey A. Quay, Case No. 1:12-cv-03429-RWS (N.D. Ga., filed October 2, 2012) SEC Charges Unlicensed Financial Advisor James S. Quay for Defrauding Investors in Atlanta Area The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged an Atlanta-based unlicensed financial advisor with a history of steering retirees into fraudulent investment schemes with defrauding two elderly women he convinced to invest with him directly. The SEC alleges that James S. Quay (Quay) and his brother Jeffrey A. Quay facilitated a scheme in which the women invested $560,000 with the understanding that they were investing in a covered-call equities trading program. The Quays created a sham limited partnership called Trinity Charitable Solutions (TCS) to purportedly operate the program. However, TCS never became a legal entity, and instead the Quays merely deposited the investors' money in a Scottrade account and personally misused at least $180,000 to afford mortgage payments, lavish restaurant meals, and membership at a massage spa. According to the SEC's complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Quay concealed from these two women and other investors that he is a convicted felon and disbarred attorney. Previously, Quay steered investors toward fraudulent investment opportunities from which he received $1.4 million in illicit sales commissions. For instance, Quay was an active sales agent and recruiter for a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme conducted by a Georgia attorney and a scheme involving an unregistered covered-call equities trading program. He has used various aliases and fake names including Jim Quay, Stephen Quay, and Stephen Jameson. The SEC alleges that Quay would often host free dinner seminars that target retirees in order to gain their trust. Quay would then encourage the attendees to schedule private consultations with him to discuss their financial situation in greater detail. Attendees would receive a biography that detailed Quay's educational background and professional designations. The follow-up consultations would often take place at Quay's personal office, where his legal diplomas, bar certification, and other professional licenses and certifications were displayed on the wall. While he would regularly tout his academic background and legal expertise, he typically would not disclose to investors his criminal background, disbarment, and loss of professional designations and licenses. Quay agreed to settle the SEC's charges by consenting to the entry of a final judgment by the court providing permanent injunctive relief under Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The proposed final judgment orders Quay to pay disgorgement of $1,403,638.62 plus prejudgment interest of $179,118.78 and a penalty of $450,000. Quay agreed to be permanently barred from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Quay also agreed to a penny stock bar and to be barred from appearing or practicing before the SEC as an attorney or an accountant. The settlement, in which Quay neither admits nor denies the allegations, is subject to court approval. The SEC's litigation against Jeffrey Quay remains pending. SEC Complaint
Litigation Release No. 22506 / October 4, 2012 Securities and Exchange Commission v. James S. Quay and Jeffrey A. Quay, Case No. 1:12-cv-03429-RWS (N.D. Ga., filed October 2, 2012) SEC Charges Unlicensed Financial Advisor James S. Quay for Defrauding Investors in Atlanta Area The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged an Atlanta-based unlicensed financial advisor with a history of steering retirees into fraudulent investment schemes with defrauding two elderly women he convinced to invest with him directly. The SEC alleges that James S. Quay (Quay) and his brother Jeffrey A. Quay facilitated a scheme in which the women invested $560,000 with the understanding that they were investing in a covered-call equities trading program. The Quays created a sham limited partnership called Trinity Charitable Solutions (TCS) to purportedly operate the program. However, TCS never became a legal entity, and instead the Quays merely deposited the investors' money in a Scottrade account and personally misused at least $180,000 to afford mortgage payments, lavish restaurant meals, and membership at a massage spa. According to the SEC's complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Quay concealed from these two women and other investors that he is a convicted felon and disbarred attorney. Previously, Quay steered investors toward fraudulent investment opportunities from which he received $1.4 million in illicit sales commissions. For instance, Quay was an active sales agent and recruiter for a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme conducted by a Georgia attorney and a scheme involving an unregistered covered-call equities trading program. He has used various aliases and fake names including Jim Quay, Stephen Quay, and Stephen Jameson. The SEC alleges that Quay would often host free dinner seminars that target retirees in order to gain their trust. Quay would then encourage the attendees to schedule private consultations with him to discuss their financial situation in greater detail. Attendees would receive a biography that detailed Quay's educational background and professional designations. The follow-up consultations would often take place at Quay's personal office, where his legal diplomas, bar certification, and other professional licenses and certifications were displayed on the wall. While he would regularly tout his academic background and legal expertise, he typically would not disclose to investors his criminal background, disbarment, and loss of professional designations and licenses. Quay agreed to settle the SEC's charges by consenting to the entry of a final judgment by the court providing permanent injunctive relief under Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The proposed final judgment orders Quay to pay disgorgement of $1,403,638.62 plus prejudgment interest of $179,118.78 and a penalty of $450,000. Quay agreed to be permanently barred from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Quay also agreed to a penny stock bar and to be barred from appearing or practicing before the SEC as an attorney or an accountant. The settlement, in which Quay neither admits nor denies the allegations, is subject to court approval. The SEC's litigation against Jeffrey Quay remains pending. SEC Complaint