SEC v MICHAEL J. MOORE AND MOORE & ASSOCIATES CHARTERED
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U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 21189 / August 27, 2009
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. MICHAEL J. MOORE AND MOORE & ASSOCIATES CHARTERED, Civil Action No. 2:09-cv-01637 (D. Nev.)
SEC CHARGES LAS VEGAS-BASED CPA AND HIS ACCOUNTING FIRM WITH FRAUD
Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged a Las Vegas-based CPA and his public accounting firm with securities fraud for issuing false audit reports that failed to comply with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") Standards and were often the product of high school graduates hired with little or no education or experience in accounting or auditing. The Commission's lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Las Vegas, Nevada, names Michael J. Moore ("Moore"), CPA, age 55, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Moore & Associates Chartered ("M&A"), a Nevada corporation headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moore and M&A have agreed to settle the charges without admitting or denying the allegations.
According to the SEC's complaint, Moore and M&A issued audit reports for more than 300 clients who consist of primarily shell or developmental stage companies with public stock quoted on the OTCBB or the Pink Sheets. The SEC alleges that Moore and M&A violated numerous auditing standards, including a failure to hire employees with adequate technical training and proficiency. The SEC further alleges that Moore and M&A did not adequately plan and supervise the audits, failed to exercise due professional care, and did not obtain sufficient competent evidence. Despite the audit failures, M&A issued and Moore signed audit reports falsely stating that the audits were conducted in accordance with PCAOB Standards. By issuing and signing these false audit reports, Moore and M&A violated the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Regulation S-X Rule 2-02(b)(1).
The SEC's complaint also alleges that Moore and M&A violated Sections 10A(a)(1) and10A(b)(1) of the Exchange Act by failing to include audit procedures designed to detect and report likely illegal acts. The complaint further alleges that Moore and M&A improperly modified audit documentation in violation of Regulation S-X Rule 2-06.
To settle the Commission's charges, Moore and M&A consented to the entry of a final judgment permanently enjoining them from future violations of Sections 10(b), 10A(a)(1), and 10A(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Regulation S-X Rules 2-02(b)(1) and 2-06 and ordering them to disgorge ill-gotten gains of $179,750 plus prejudgment interest of $10,151.59. Moore separately agreed to pay a $130,000 penalty. Moore and M&A also consented to the entry of an administrative order that makes findings and suspends them from appearing or practicing before the Commission as an accountant pursuant to Rule 102(e)(3) of the Commission's Rules of Practice.
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