SEC Announces Its First Ever Deferred Prosecution Agreement With An Individual

SEC Enforcement

On November 12, the SEC announced a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with a former hedge fund administrator, the agency’s first ever DPA with an individual. The DPA follows a November 2012 SEC enforcement action against a hedge fund and its manager, who allegedly misappropriated more than $1.5 million from the hedge fund and overstated its performance to investors. The SEC action derived from and was aided by information provided by the hedge fund administrator. In return for the assistance provided, the SEC agreed to enter the DPA instead of pursuing allegations that the settling administrator aided and abetted the fund’s securities law violations. The DPA requires the administrator to disgorge $50,000, and prohibits the administrator from, (i) serving as a fund administrator or otherwise providing any services to any hedge fund for a period of five years, and (ii) associating with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, or registered investment company. The SEC states the agreement demonstrates its commitment to rewarding proactive cooperation. According to the SEC, the agreement strikes a balance between holding the administrator accountable for his part in the alleged misconduct, while giving him credit for reporting the fraud and providing full cooperation without any assurances of leniency.