Bruce Carton

Itamar Cohen, age 52, of Thornhill in Ontario, Canada recently pleaded guilty in New Jersey to a $17 million stock fraud. This has created considerable stress and drama for Itamar Cohen, age 53, of Thornhill in Ontario, Canada — an innocent attorney who is the victim of this unfortunate coincidence.

Yesterday, the SEC issued an unusual order In the Matter of Timbervest LLC et al., an administrative proceeding currently before the agency. The Commission invited the ALJ in the case to file an affidavit addressing the existence of any pressure to rule in favor of the Division of Enforcement in pending cases.

The SEC has found another interesting use for its “Pinterest” page. It recently created a Women’s History Month board on the popular social media site to help gather information and photos, and celebrate the achievements of many of the most influential women employees in in its history.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren would like SEC Chair Mary Jo White to know that Sen. Warren is disappointed in her. In a 13-page letter this week, Sen. Warren expressed this very sentiment repeatedly, prompting Chair White and others to defend her leadership of the agency and its accomplishments.

A documentary premiering tonight on CNBC includes an in-depth look at the audacious insider trading scheme carried out by trader Garrett Bauer and attorney Matthew Kluger. The film examines how people rationalize and justify behavior, and considers what can be done “to stem an epidemic of cheating.”

Australian stock trader facing sentencing for insider trading channels his inner George Costanza (“Was that wrong? Should I have not done that?”)

Image: The SEC has settled FCPA charges against BHP Billiton for inviting 176 government officials and employees of state-owned enterprises to attend the 2008 Summer Olympic Games at the company’s expense. Andrew Ceresney, head of the SEC’s Enforcement Division, said the invites occurred “while they were in a position to help the company with its business or regulatory endeavors.” The penalty: $25 million. More inside.

SEC Director of Enforcement Andrew Ceresney recently provided some detailed updates on the work and recent results of the Enforcement Division’s national litigation program. He characterized the litigation docket as “busy,” with approximately 130 litigators in the national trial unit who are currently litigating more than 550 cases. He stated that in FY 2014, the agency had 30 cases go to trial—the largest number of trials in the last 10 years. Details inside.

SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher has notified the White House that he will be departing the agency as soon as his successor is confirmed by the Senate. With fellow SEC Commissioner Luis Aguilar also leaving the agency soon, the search for potential successors is reportedly underway.

In detailed remarks on Wednesday, former SEC Chairman Christopher Cox weighed in on the growing controversy concerning the SEC’s use of administrative proceedings. Chairman Cox offered insights into how the present situation came to be and how it might be resolved.