United States

FTC and States Sue Cancer Recovery Foundation for Donor Deception

The FTC and 10 states have filed a lawsuit against the Cancer Recovery Foundation International, also known as Women's Cancer Fund, and its operator for allegedly deceiving donors. The charity is accused of collecting over $18 million from 2017 to 2022, with only a small fraction going to support cancer patients and the majority used for fundraisers and the operator.

FTC and States Stop Kars-R-Us.com Deceptive Fundraising Scheme

The FTC and 19 states have stopped Kars-R-Us.com, Inc. and its operators from continuing a deceptive charity fundraising scheme. The operators made false claims to donors, and under a proposed settlement, face restrictions on future fundraising, with one operator permanently banned.

FTC v. XCL Resources Holdings, LLC - Antitrust Enforcement

The FTC has filed a gun jumping case against XCL Resources Holdings, LLC, Verdun Oil Company II LLC, and EP Energy, LLC. The companies will pay a record $5.6 million civil penalty to settle allegations of illegal pre-merger coordination in violation of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

SEC and CFTC Joint Event on Crypto Harmonization

The SEC and CFTC will hold a joint event on January 27, 2026, to discuss harmonization efforts and U.S. financial leadership in the crypto era. The event aims to address regulatory clarity for market participants and foster innovation in the cryptocurrency space.

SEC Appoints New Chairman and Board Members to PCAOB

The SEC announced the appointment of Demetrios Logothetis as Chairman and three new members to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). These appointments are intended to usher in a new era of sensible and efficient oversight of auditors, focusing on the PCAOB's core mission of investor protection.

SEC Publishes Data on ETFs, Fund Mergers, and Advisors

The SEC's Division of Economic and Risk Analysis has published new reports on active ETFs and fund mergers, along with updated statistics for municipal advisors, transfer agents, and security-based swap dealers. These publications provide data and analysis on market trends and investor fee impacts.

SEC v. Ryan Squillante - Insider Trading Enforcement

The SEC announced a final consent judgment against Ryan Squillante for insider trading. Squillante was ordered to pay disgorgement and prejudgment interest totaling $250,765, which was satisfied by a criminal fine in a parallel case. The SEC alleges he used confidential information to trade in at least ten securities.

SEC Obtains Judgments Against Shvartsman Brothers for Insider Trading

The SEC announced it obtained final consent judgments against Gerald and Michael Shvartsman for insider trading in DWAC securities, resulting in disgorgement of over $22 million. The action also involved parallel criminal proceedings, and the SEC voluntarily dismissed its claims against Rocket One Capital LLC.

SEC Charges Marat Likhtenstein with $4 Million Offering Fraud

The SEC has charged Marat Likhtenstein with an offering fraud scheme that raised over $4.1 million. Likhtenstein allegedly misappropriated investor funds for personal expenses and Ponzi-like payments. He consented to injunctive relief, with monetary relief to be determined.

SEC Charges CBA Pharma and Two Executives with Fraud

The SEC has charged CBA Pharma, Inc. and two executives with defrauding investors in a securities offering that raised approximately $4.1 million. The company allegedly misrepresented the effectiveness and FDA approval status of its cancer drug, CBT-1.