LADP Acquisition, Inc., et al.

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 21655 / September 17, 2010

SEC v. LADP Acquisition, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. CV10 6835 RGK JCG (United States District Court for the Central District of California) 

SEC Obtains Emergency Asset Freeze to Halt Multimillion Dollar Entertainment Investment Fraud

On September 14, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Atlanta -based LADP Acquisition, Inc. (LADP Acquisition) and its principals, Atlanta residents William A. Goldstein and Marc E. Bercoon.  The SEC alleges that LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon are perpetrating an ongoing $3.2 million entertainment investment fraud.  The court entered an order halting the alleged fraud and freezing the assets of LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon.

The SEC charged LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon for allegedly misappropriating investor funds in a "bait-and-switch" scheme. The SEC's complaint alleges that LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon misrepresented that investors would be investing in L.A. Digital Post, Inc. (L.A. Digital), a television and film post-production company with offices in Los Angeles and New York.  The SEC's complaint alleges that prospective investors were provided offering materials listing prominent motion picture studios and television networks that had been clients of L.A. Digital and a "client list" setting forth well-known television shows and movies for which L.A. Digital provided post-production services.

In reality, according to the SEC's complaint, investors received worthless certificates representing "shares" in LADP Acquisition, an entity with no business operations.  The SEC's complaint further alleges that the defendants represented to potential investors that L.A. Digital is "going public" or going to be the subject of an initial public offering (IPO) within a short period of time, such as 60 or 90 days, and that its shares will be traded on the American Stock Exchange, or some other public exchange such as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.   However, no public offering of L.A. Digital stock has occurred.

The Honorable R. Gary Klausner, United States District Court Judge for the Central District of California, issued an order on September 16, 2010 freezing assets of LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon.  The SEC's complaint alleges that since at least mid-2009 the defendants have raised approximately $3.2 million from more than 100 investors nationwide.  The complaint further alleges that, undisclosed to investors, the defendants have misappropriated over $800,000 of the investor funds raised for their own use.

In its lawsuit, the SEC obtained an order (1) freezing the assets of LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon; (2) preventing the destruction of documents; (3) requiring an accounting from LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon; and (4) temporarily enjoining LADP Acquisition, Goldstein and Bercoon from future violations of the registration and antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.  The SEC also seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions, disgorgement, and civil penalties against all defendants.  The court shall issue a determination regarding the SEC's request for a preliminary injunction on October 7, 2010 or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible.

See Also: SEC Complaint