Rose Romero Named District Administrator of the SEC’s Fort Worth District Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006-16

Washington, D.C., Feb. 3, 2006 — Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the appointment of Rose Romero as the District Administrator of the Commission’s Fort Worth District Office (FWDO).  In this position, Romero will oversee both the enforcement and examination programs within the FWDO’s jurisdiction.  She is expected to assume her position in early March. Romero succeeds Jim Clarkson who has been serving as the Acting District Administrator since September 2005 and who will now return to his post as Director of Regional Office Operations in Washington, D.C.

Romero currently is the Executive Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. In that role, she advises the U.S. Attorney in a range of areas of management and administration and oversees all criminal and civil programs initiated by the Northern District.

“Investors in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas have a powerful new advocate in Ms. Romero and those who would defraud investors have a powerful new foe,” Chairman Cox said. “Her more than 15 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and her extensive management experience make her well qualified to lead the SEC’s Fort Worth District Office. I look forward to working with Ms. Romero on behalf of all investors.”

SEC Director of Enforcement Linda Thomsen stated, “I am delighted that Rose Romero has agreed to serve as the District Administrator of the SEC’s Fort Worth District Office. She has distinguished herself as a prosecutor and as a manager throughout her career and I am confident that she will bring those same qualities to her new role within the Commission.”

Lori Richards, Director of the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, added, “I welcome Rose to the SEC and know that she will be an asset to the Commission’s oversight of securities firms in the region.”

Ms. Romero said, “I thank Chairman Cox and the Commission for the opportunity to join the important work of the SEC in protecting the interests of investors and the integrity of our capital markets. I am eager to work alongside the dedicated enforcement and examination staff of the Fort Worth District Office as we endeavor to identify securities violations and take action against those who would betray the public confidence. As a career prosecutor, who has dealt with the devastating consequences of fraud and deception, I appreciate the importance of vigorously investigating securities law violations and marshalling all available resources to protect investors.”

Romero joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1989 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and investigated and prosecuted numerous cases involving white collar fraud, telemarketing fraud, bank fraud, narcotics and money laundering. In 1996, she was appointed Deputy Criminal Chief, Narcotic and Violent Crimes Section, where she served until 1999. Romero then was selected to work as a resident legal advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador where she advised the Ambassador on legal and political issues and assisted local officials in drafting civil and criminal legislation aimed at punishing financial crimes, money laundering and narcotics trafficking. Prior to her appointment to her present position, she also served as District Senior Litigation Counsel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Romero received her BS from Texas Christian University and her JD from Southern Methodist University. She also served in the United States Air Force.

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2006-16.htm