Enforcement

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Detroit-based Ambassador Capital Management and portfolio manager Derek Oglesby with fraud for investing in risky securities and passing them off to investors, including municipalities, as safe money market funds.

The Missouri Secretary of State Securities Division filed a civil enforcement action against Morgan Keegan accusing the firm of securities fraud in its role as underwriter of $39 million of defaulted bonds issued by Moberly, Mo.

The National Association of Bond Lawyers may consider creating guidance on how attorneys can reasonably rely on tax certificates, following the false certifications market professionals provided for deals involving investment contracts that came to light in criminal bid-rigging cases.

State and federal investigations of the Beaumont, Texas, Independent School District brought a Moody's Investors Service warnings of a possible downgrade on the district's $405 million of general obligation debt Tuesday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's $20,000 penalty on the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District highlights the regulator's heightened focus on the municipal market.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined five firms $255,500 and fined and suspended an individual for violations of municipal securities rules.

Bankrupt Jefferson County, Ala.'s former financial advisor James White revealed "privileged" information and violated his fiduciary duties, attorneys for the county claim.

American Airlines and US Airways Group Inc. settled an antitrust lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice, clearing American's path to exit bankruptcy and repay its municipal bondholders.

WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission filed motions arguing it met the burden of proof necessary to move forward with securities fraud allegations against Miami and its former budget director.

The Securities and Exchange Commission Friday announced that LeeAnn Gaunt will lead its enforcement division's municipal securities and public pensions unit, replacing Elaine Greenberg, who left to join a law firm.

The SEC's enforcement action against participants in the Regional Events Center Public Facilities District's arena deal shows that the commission will not shy from seeking financial penalties against municipal issuers and transaction participants, market participants said.

Jefferson County, Ala.'s bankruptcy plan will eliminate dozens of suits, restructure debt, and offer the sewer system "a fresh start," court documents said.

Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Mary Jo White said Wednesday that a 2012 risk alert on whether underwriters are doing enough to ensure the accuracy of offering documents is an example of how behind-the-scenes SEC action protects investors.

Former JPMorgan bankers argue that bankrupt Jefferson County, Ala.'s swap transactions are outside the Securities and Exchange Commission’s purview.

The Greater Wenatchee, Wash., Regional Events Center Public Facilities District has agreed to pay $20,000 — the first financial penalty the SEC has assessed against a municipal bond issuer — to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that it misled investors of bonds used to finance the construction of an events center and ice hockey arena.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board announced Monday that it has begun a multi-year campaign to expand outreach to state and local issuers, emphasizing how they can use the MSRB's EMMA website for disclosure compliance and education.

The IRS completed an examination into $153 million of bonds issued by Miami in 2007 without a change in tax exempt status.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s chief administrative law judge has dismissed a commission order instituting cease and desist proceedings against two UBS Financial Services, Inc. of Puerto Rico executives for allegedly misleading mutual fund investors.

Miami and its former budget director Michael Boudreaux are urging a federal district court to dismiss the securities fraud charges the Securities and Exchange Commmision filed against them in July for disclosure failures.

Attorneys representing Victorville, Calif. and its officials argued in court that SEC fraud charges in connection with a 2008 bond offering should be dismissed.