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SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

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11–20 of 90 posts

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#11

"Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, Rothenberg and Rothenberg Ventures agreed to settle the charges. The settlement is subject to approval by the federal district court for the Northern District of California which would determine the amount of disgorgement and civil money penalties. Rothenberg also agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business with a right…

> Besides blowing investors' money on lavish staff events, which is a dick move but not necessarily illegal

Can you talk a bit about where the line is between this being merely unethical as opposed to outright illegal?

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#12
post #7

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, Rothenberg and Rothenberg Ventures agreed to settle the charges. The settlement is subject to approval by the federal district court for the Northern District of California which would determine the amount of disgorgement and civil money penalties. Rothenberg also agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business with a right t…

Whistleblower here. It took 25 months from when I reported the fraud until the settlement.

Good job and thanks for sticking your neck out!

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#13
post #7

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, Rothenberg and Rothenberg Ventures agreed to settle the charges. The settlement is subject to approval by the federal district court for the Northern District of California which would determine the amount of disgorgement and civil money penalties. Rothenberg also agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business with a right t…

Whistleblower here. It took 25 months from when I reported the fraud until the settlement.

I hope you were well compensated for going out on that limb. Thanks.

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#14
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah I've pretty much given up on the justice system. if you have money regardless of how you obtained it, the law always favor those with capital for the most part. Unless you try to fight back against government's monopoly on violence....drug traffiking being a major competition, it makes sense why harsh sentences are handed out for drug dealers while white collar criminals that inflict damage to millions of people…

> government's monopoly on violence Can I get a source on this?

Max Weber. However, he stated it as Today, however, we have to say that a state is a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

Politics as a Vocation.

http://fs2.american.edu/dfagel/www/class%20readings/weber/po...

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#15
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah I've pretty much given up on the justice system. if you have money regardless of how you obtained it, the law always favor those with capital for the most part. Unless you try to fight back against government's monopoly on violence....drug traffiking being a major competition, it makes sense why harsh sentences are handed out for drug dealers while white collar criminals that inflict damage to millions of people…

> government's monopoly on violence Can I get a source on this?

that is the accepted definition of State. a State can arm a faction (police, army, etc), and have the freedom to decide how to use it (removing you from some place, keeping you at another place, invading another State, etc). a corporation and citizens can't. hence a monopoly on violence.

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#16
post #7

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, Rothenberg and Rothenberg Ventures agreed to settle the charges. The settlement is subject to approval by the federal district court for the Northern District of California which would determine the amount of disgorgement and civil money penalties. Rothenberg also agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business with a right t…

Whistleblower here. It took 25 months from when I reported the fraud until the settlement.

Out of curiosity, would you do it again? Has there been any damage to your professional life?

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#17
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah I've pretty much given up on the justice system. if you have money regardless of how you obtained it, the law always favor those with capital for the most part. Unless you try to fight back against government's monopoly on violence....drug traffiking being a major competition, it makes sense why harsh sentences are handed out for drug dealers while white collar criminals that inflict damage to millions of people…

> government's monopoly on violence Can I get a source on this?

This is a sort of tenant of the modern state if you look at it a certain way. Ultimately the threat of violence is invested in the state to ensure the law is followed.

It is not a pitchfork and torch mob that should come after you should you appear to have committed a serious crime, but rather the government's police agencies that will come to arrest you, very physically if need be.

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_on_violence

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whistleblower here. It took 25 months from when I reported the fraud until the settlement.

I hope you were well compensated for going out on that limb. Thanks.

the whistleblower gets some significant % of settlement

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#19
post #7

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, Rothenberg and Rothenberg Ventures agreed to settle the charges. The settlement is subject to approval by the federal district court for the Northern District of California which would determine the amount of disgorgement and civil money penalties. Rothenberg also agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business with a right t…

Whistleblower here. It took 25 months from when I reported the fraud until the settlement.

Good job Francisco!

Re: SEC Charges Rothenberg Ventures in Fraudulent Scheme

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whistleblower here. It took 25 months from when I reported the fraud until the settlement.

Out of curiosity, would you do it again? Has there been any damage to your professional life?

Article is about the whistleblower/commenter above.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-09/he-blew-t...

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