Case 1:18-cv-08175-ER Document 89 Filed 02/01/19 Page 1 of 13
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, :
:
Plaintiff, :
: 18 Civ. 8175 (ER)
-- against -- :
: ECF CASE
BARRY C. HONIG, JOHN STETSON, :
MICHAEL BRAUSER, JOHN R. O’ROURKE III, :
MARK GROUSSMAN, PHILLIP FROST, :
ROBERT LADD, ELLIOT MAZA, BRIAN KELLER, :
JOHN H. FORD, ALPHA CAPITAL ANSTALT, ATG :
CAPITAL LLC, FROST GAMMA INVESTMENTS :
TRUST, GRQ CONSULTANTS, INC., :
HS CONTRARIAN INVESTMENTS, LLC, :
GRANDER HOLDINGS, INC., MELECHDAVID, :
INC., OPKO HEALTH, INC., :
SOUTHERN BIOTECH, INC., and :
STETSON CAPITAL INVESTMENTS INC., :
:
Defendants. :
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FINAL JUDGMENT AS TO DEFENDANT MARK GROUSSMAN
The Securities and Exchange Commission having filed a Complaint and Defendant Mark
Groussman 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 Final Judgment
without admitting or denying the allegations of the Complaint (except as to jurisdiction and
except as otherwise provided herein in paragraph VIII); waived findings of fact and conclusions
of law; and waived any right to appeal from this Final Judgment:
I.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant is
permanently restrained and enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 10(b) of the
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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.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who
receive actual notice of this Final 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 (a).
II.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that 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;
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(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.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who
receive actual notice of this Final 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 (a).
III.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant
is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating Section 5 of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C.
§ 77e] 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;
(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
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(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].
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who
receive actual notice of this Final 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 (a).
IV.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant
is permanently restrained and enjoined from violating, directly or indirectly, Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78m(d)] and Rule 13d-1(a) promulgated thereunder [17 C.F.R.
§ 240.13d-1(a)] by failing to file with the Commission a statement containing the information
required by Schedule 13D (as provided in 17 C.F.R. § 240.13d-101), within 10 days after
acquiring directly or indirectly the beneficial ownership of more than five percent of any equity
security of a class which is specified in Exchange Act Rule 13d-1(i) [17 C.F.R. § 240.13d-1(i)].
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, as provided in
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)(2), the foregoing paragraph also binds the following who
receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise: (a) Defendant’s
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officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and (b) other persons in active concert or
participation with Defendant or with anyone described in (a).
V.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant
is barred, for five years following the date of entry of this Final Judgment, from participating in
an offering of penny stock, including engaging in activities with a broker, dealer, or issuer for
purposes of issuing, trading, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of any
penny stock (which is any equity security that has a price of less than five dollars, except as
provided in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act [17 C.F.R. § 240.3a51-1]); provided, however,
that such bar shall not prohibit Defendant from holding or selling the securities of, or providing
additional funding to, any issuer whose securities are owned by Defendant as of the date of this
Final Judgment; provided further, however, that, any sale of securities hereafter shall be limited
to the number of shares of such issuer held by Defendant as of the date of this Final Judgment,
and, furthermore, for any additional funding provided by Defendant hereafter to any such issuer,
Defendant shall receive debt securities with no current or future equity conversion feature.
VI.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant
is liable for disgorgement of $1,051,360, representing profits gained as a result of the conduct
alleged in the Complaint, together with prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of
$170,554.78, and a civil penalty in the amount of $160,000 pursuant to Section 20(d)(2) of the
Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)(2)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §
78u(d)(3)]. Defendant shall satisfy this obligation by paying $1,381,914.78 to the Securities and
Exchange Commission within 14 days after entry of this Final Judgment.
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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; Mark Groussman 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 in this 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. The Commission shall send the funds paid pursuant
to this Final Judgment 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.
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VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that 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.
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that, solely for purposes of
exceptions to discharge set forth in Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §523, the
allegations in the complaint are true and admitted by Defendant, and further, any debt for
disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalty or other amounts due by Defendant under this
Final Judgment or any other judgment, order, consent order, decree or settlement agreement
entered in connection with this proceeding, is a debt for the violation by Defendant of the federal
securities laws or any regulation or order issued under such laws, as set forth in Section
523(a)(19) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(19).
IX.
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 Final Judgment.
X.
There being no just reason for delay, pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the Clerk is ordered to enter this Final Judgment forthwith and without further notice.
Dated: ______________, _____
____________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, :
:
Plaintiff, :
: 18 Civ. 8175 (ER)
-- against -- :
: ECF CASE
BARRY C. HONIG, JOHN STETSON, :
MICHAEL BRAUSER, JOHN R. O’ROURKE III, :
MARK GROUSSMAN, PHILLIP FROST, :
ROBERT LADD, ELLIOT MAZA, BRIAN KELLER, :
JOHN H. FORD, ALPHA CAPITAL ANSTALT, ATG :
CAPITAL LLC, FROST GAMMA INVESTMENTS :
TRUST, GRQ CONSULTANTS, INC., :
HS CONTRARIAN INVESTMENTS, LLC, :
GRANDER HOLDINGS, INC., MELECHDAVID, :
INC., OPKO HEALTH, INC., :
SOUTHERN BIOTECH, INC., and :
STETSON CAPITAL INVESTMENTS INC., :
:
Defendants. :
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CONSENT OF DEFENDANT MARK GROUSSMAN
1. Defendant Mark Groussman (“Defendant”) acknowledges having been served
with the complaint in this action, enters a general appearance, and admits the Court’s jurisdiction
over Defendant and over the subject matter of this action.
2. Without admitting or denying the allegations of the complaint (except as provided
herein in paragraph 11 and except as to personal and subject matter jurisdiction, which
Defendant admits), Defendant hereby consents to the entry of the final Judgment in the form
attached hereto (the “Final Judgment”) and incorporated by reference herein, which, among other
things:
(a) permanently restrains and enjoins Defendant from violation of Sections
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5(a) and (c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act) [15
U.S.C. §§ 77e(a) and (c) and 77q(a)] and Sections 10(b) and 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b)
and 78m(d)] and Rules 10b-5 and 13d-1(a) thereunder [17 C.F.R. §§
240.10b-5 and 240.13d-1(a)];
(b) bars Defendant, for five years following the date of entry of the Final
Judgment, from participating in any offering of penny stock pursuant to
Section 20(g) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(g)] and Section
21(d)(6) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(6)] , except as specified
in the Final Judgment;
(c) orders Defendant to pay disgorgement in the amount of $1,051,360, plus
prejudgment interest thereon in the amount of $170,554.78; and
(d) orders Defendant to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $160,000 under
Section 20(d)(2) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)(2)] and Section
21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)].
3. Defendant agrees that he shall not seek or accept, directly or indirectly,
reimbursement or indemnification from any source, including but not limited to payment made
pursuant to any insurance policy, with regard to any civil penalty amounts that Defendant pays
pursuant to the Final Judgment, regardless of whether such penalty amounts or any part thereof
are added to a distribution fund or otherwise used for the benefit of investors. Defendant further
agrees that he shall not claim, assert, or apply for a tax deduction or tax credit with regard to any
federal, state, or local tax for any penalty amounts that Defendant pays pursuant to the Final
Judgment, regardless of whether such penalty amounts or any part thereof are added to a
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distribution fund or otherwise used for the benefit of investors.
4. Defendant waives the entry of findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to
Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
5. Defendant waives the right, if any, to a jury trial and to appeal from the entry of
the Final Judgment.
6. Defendant enters into this Consent voluntarily and represents that no threats,
offers, promises, or inducements of any kind have been made by the Commission or any
member, officer, employee, agent, or representative of the Commission to induce Defendant to
enter into this Consent.
7. Defendant agrees that this Consent shall be incorporated into the Final Judgment
with the same force and effect as if fully set forth therein.
8. Defendant will not oppose the enforcement of the Final Judgment on the ground,
if any exists, that it fails to comply with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and
hereby waives any objection based thereon.
9. Defendant waives service of the Final Judgment and agrees that entry of the Final
Judgment by the Court and filing with the Clerk of the Court will constitute notice to Defendant
of its terms and conditions. Defendant further agrees to provide counsel for the Commission,
within thirty days after the Final Judgment is filed with the Clerk of the Court, with an affidavit
or declaration stating that Defendant has received and read a copy of the Final Judgment.
10. Consistent with 17 C.F.R. § 202.5(f), this Consent resolves only the claims
asserted against Defendant in this civil proceeding. Defendant acknowledges that no promise or
representation has been made by the Commission or any member, officer, employee, agent, or
representative of the Commission with regard to any criminal liability that may have arisen or
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may arise from the facts underlying this action or immunity from any such criminal liability.
Defendant waives any claim of Double Jeopardy based upon the settlement of this proceeding,
including the imposition of any remedy or civil penalty herein. Defendant further acknowledges
that the Court’s entry of a permanent injunction may have collateral consequences under federal
or state law and the rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations, licensing boards, and
other regulatory organizations. Such collateral consequences include, but are not limited to, a
statutory disqualification with respect to membership or participation in, or association with a
member of, a self-regulatory organization. This statutory disqualification has consequences that
are separate from any sanction imposed in an administrative proceeding. In addition, in any
disciplinary proceeding before the Commission based on the entry of the injunction in this
action, Defendant understands that he shall not be permitted to contest the factual allegations of
the complaint in this action.
11. Defendant understands and agrees to comply with the terms of 17 C.F.R.
§ 202.5(e), which provides in part that it is the Commission's policy “not to permit a defendant or
respondent to consent to a judgment or order that imposes a sanction while denying the
allegations in the complaint or order for proceedings,” and “a refusal to admit the allegations is
equivalent to a denial, unless the defendant or respondent states that he neither admits nor denies
the allegations.” As part of Defendant’s agreement to comply with the terms of Section 202.5(e),
Defendant: (i) will not take any action or make or permit to be made any public statement
denying, directly or indirectly, any allegation in the complaint or creating the impression that the
complaint is without factual basis; (ii) will not make or permit to be made any public statement
to the effect that Defendant does not admit the allegations of the complaint, or that this Consent
contains no admission of the allegations, without also stating that Defendant does not deny the
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allegations; (iii) upon the filing of this Consent, Defendant hereby withdraws any papers filed in
this action to the extent that they deny any allegation in the complaint; and (iv) stipulates solely
for purposes of exceptions to discharge set forth in Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11
U.S.C. §523, that the allegations in the complaint are true, and further, that any debt for
disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalty or other amounts due by Defendant under the
Final Judgment or any other judgment, order, consent order, decree or settlement agreement
entered in connection with this proceeding, is a debt for the violation by Defendant of the federal
securities laws or any regulation or order issued under such laws, as set forth in Section
523(a)(19) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(19). If Defendant breaches this
agreement, the Commission may petition the Court to vacate the Final Judgment and restore this
action to its active docket. Nothing in this paragraph affects Defendant’s: (i) testimonial
obligations; or (ii) right to take legal or factual positions in litigation or other legal proceedings
in which the Commission is not a party.
12. Defendant hereby waives any rights under the Equal Access to Justice Act, the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, or any other provision of law to
seek from the United States, or any agency, or any official of the United States acting in his or
her official capacity, directly or indirectly, reimbursement of attorney’s fees or other fees,
expenses, or costs expended by Defendant to defend against this action. For these purposes,
Defendant agrees that Defendant is not the prevailing party in this action since the parties have
reached a good faith settlement.
13. Defendant agrees that the Commission may present the Final Judgment to the
Court for signature and entry without further notice.
14. Defendant agrees that this Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter for the
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