U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 20098 / April 30, 2007
SEC v. Alexis Ampudia, a/k/a Alexis Geancarlos Ampudia Navalo, a/k/a Alexis Emias, a/k/a Alexis Rojas, Civil Action No. 07-CV-2762 (HB) (S.D.N.Y.)
SEC Files Emergency Action Against Alexis Ampudia to Stop an Identity Theft "Pump and Dump" Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on April 13, 2007, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a preliminary injunction order on consent against defendant Alexis Ampudia. Pending a final disposition of the Commission's enforcement action, the order enjoins Ampudia from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5. The order also freezes his assets and orders the repatriation of funds taken out of the United States.
The Commission's complaint, filed on April 5, 2007, charged Ampudia, a 22-year old Panamanian citizen and resident of Brooklyn, New York, with conducting a fraudulent scheme involving the manipulation of the prices of numerous securities by using brokerage accounts he had opened in the names of identity theft victims, without their knowledge or consent. The Commission alleged that, since November 2006, Ampudia made at least $140,000 in unlawful profits by manipulating the securities of at least five publicly traded companies. In its enforcement action, the Commission is seeking additional relief, including orders permanently enjoining Ampudia from committing future violations of the foregoing federal securities laws, and a final judgment ordering him to disgorge ill-gotten gains and assessing civil penalties.
The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the New York County District Attorney's Office, New York City Police Department, and United States Secret Service in this matter.