Mohamad Zein and Provident Capital Investments Inc.

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 20307 / September 27, 2007

SEC v. Mohamad Zein and Provident Capital Investments Inc., Civil Action File No. 1:07-CV-02330-BBM (N.D. Ga.)

Federal Court Enters Final Judgments Against Mohamad Zein and Provident Capital Investments Inc., for Their Role in Defrauding the Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff's Office

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") announced today that on September 26, 2007, the Honorable Beverly B. Martin, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, entered Final Judgments against Mohamad Zein and Provident Capital Investments Inc. ("Provident"), which permanently enjoin them from future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The Final Judgment against Zein also orders him to pay a $5,000 civil penalty, within ten days from the entry of the final judgment.

The Commission's complaint alleged that Zein and Provident made misrepresentations of material fact to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office through the issuance of fictitious account statements, which falsely represented the nature of and rate of return of the investment made by the Sheriff's Office with Provident. Zein and Provident consented to the entry of the Final Judgments without admitting or denying the allegations in the Commission's Complaint.

See also: L.R. 20298 (September 25, 2007).