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Enforcement Roundup: May 2020

The gavel represents enforcement actions taken by the BCSC in British Columbia.
The Enforcement Roundup is a monthly summary of enforcement activities in British Columbia taken by securities regulators.

This month’s edition of the Enforcement Roundup addresses two BC Securities Commission (BCSC) settlement agreements, one investor alert, a notice of hearing, and two orders. We also include two BC Provincial Court decisions resulting from BCSC criminal investigations, and three enforcement actions from the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA).

BCSC Investor Alert

Aggressive Stock Promotion Exploits Fears of Coronavirus Recession

The BCSC and the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) continue to warn the public to exercise extreme caution about aggressive promotion of Crestview Exploration Inc., a BC gold mining company.

On May 25, 2020, the BCSC updated its investor alert to say: “A letter headlined, ‘A RECESSION IS AROUND THE CORNER,’ was sent to Canadian households in May. The letter refers to the ‘irreparable financial damage’ caused by the lockdown, and then goes on to make the same recommendation of Crestview.” Click the link below to read more.

INVESTOR ALERT

BCSC Criminal Enforcement

Richard Good

The BC Provincial Court in Salmon Arm sentenced Good to two years of probation, including a term of house arrest, after he was convicted of breaching a BCSC order.

Good was sentenced for engaging in investor relations activities despite being permanently banned by the BCSC in 2007 from doing so. Following an investigation by the BCSC’s Criminal Investigations Branch, Good was charged in 2019 for breaching the BCSC order and was convicted in March 2020.

NEWS RELEASE

James Warring Minnie (also known as Terry James Minnie)

The BC Provincial Court in Victoria has sentenced Minnie, a Parksville resident, to four and a half years in prison for defrauding two BC investors of more than half a million dollars. It’s the longest sentence ever imposed as a result of a BCSC criminal investigation.

Minnie was convicted of two counts of criminal fraud over $5,000. In addition to the jail sentence, Minnie has been ordered to repay the victims a total of $543,220 in restitution. He is prohibited from contacting either of the victims.

NEWS RELEASE

BCSC Enforcement

Settlement Agreements

SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd., Marc Green

The BCSC has reached a settlement agreement with BC cannabis company SpeakEasy, which participated in conduct abusive to the province’s capital markets.

As a result of SpeakEasy’s response to the allegations and because of the potential impact of financial orders on existing shareholders, the BCSC found it was not in the public interest to issue orders against the company.

The company does not have a history of securities misconduct and fully cooperated with the BCSC’s investigation.

NEWS RELEASE

Hyongsuk Kim

Kim, a former Maple Ridge dealing representative, admitted he that he provided false information about his qualifications in a registration application.

As part of the settlement, Kim is permanently banned from becoming a registrant under the Act, and agreed to pay $10,000 to the BCSC.

NEWS RELEASE

Orders

Talking Stick Media Incorporated, YourStick.com Media Inc., Rockin Bike Motorcycle Manufacturing Company Incorporated, Sturgis Canada Festival Incorporated, Raymond Michael Roger Sasseville (also known as Michael Ray Carrier), Jonathon S. Reidar

The BCSC has issued temporary orders against the above four companies and two individuals as it investigates possible violations of the registration and prospectus requirements of the Securities Act and a possible breach of a prior BCSC order.

NEWS RELEASE

Notice of Hearing

Lei Qiao

The BCSC alleges Qiao, a former Surrey dealing representative, provided false information about his previous employment in two registration applications.

The BCSC’s allegations have not been proven. The commission will schedule a hearing date in June 2020.

NEWS RELEASE

Jefferson Franklin Mesidor

The BCSC has ordered that $2,788, plus interest, be paid to one investor for losses incurred from a fraudulent investment scheme.

Mesidor was found to have committed fraud when he spent money given to him by two investors for purposes other than foreign exchange trading. In 2014, Mesidor was ordered to pay the BCSC $16,000. He was also ordered to pay an administrative penalty of $75,000 and was permanently banned him from BC’s capital markets.

NEWS RELEASE

MFDA Enforcement

Settlement Agreements

Robert Allen Berget

Berget, who conducted business in the Kelowna, BC area, admitted to contravening an MFDA rule when dealing with multiple client account forms.

Berget must pay a fine in the amount of $11,500, and $2,500 in costs.

Berget must also comply with the contravened rule.

NEWS RELEASE

Rohit Jaswal

Jaswal, who conducted business in the Surrey, BC area, admitted to contravening multiple MFDA rules.

Jaswal must pay a $5,000 fine and $2,500 in costs. Jaswal is prohibited from conducting securities related business in any capacity while employed by or associated with any MFDA member for 6 months.

Jaswal must also comply with the contravened rules in the future.

NEWS RELEASE

Findings

Lee Scott McIvor

The MFDA hearing panel found that McIvor, who conducted business in the Kelowna, BC area, failed to cooperate with the investigation into his conduct, contrary to an MFDA bylaw.

McIvor must pay a $75,000 fine and $10,000 in costs. McIvor is also permanently prohibited from conducting securities related business in any capacity while employed by or associated with any MFDA member.

NEWS RELEASE

Report a Concern

If you have any concerns about a person or company offering an investment opportunity, please contact BCSC Contact Centre at 604-899-6854 or 1-800-373-6393 or through e-mail at [email protected]. You can also file a complaint or submit a tip anonymously using the BCSC’s online complaint form.

InvestRight.org is the BC Securities Commission’s investor education website. Subscribe to receive email updates from BCSC InvestRight.

More Resources

Investor Alert: Aggressive Stock Promotion Exploits Fears of Coronavirus Recession

Investor Alert: Aggressive Stock Promotion Exploits Fears of Coronavirus Recession

The BCSC and the ASC are warning the public to exercise extreme caution about aggressive promotion of Crestview Exploration Inc., a B.C. gold mining company.

Read More
Investor Alert: Canadian Securities Regulators Warn Public About Entity Claiming to Regulate Derivatives

Investor Alert: Canadian Securities Regulators Warn Public About Entity Claiming to Regulate Derivatives

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is warning the public about an entity falsely claiming to regulate derivatives in Canada.

Read More

Crypto Quiz

Test Your Crypto Asset Knowledge.

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This quiz is designed to introduce you to the basics of crypto assets. It is not intended to provide investment or financial advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for such advice.
1
QUESTION 1/10

Cryptocurrencies and blockchain are the same thing.