UK Brokerage Firm is Accused of $50M Stock Fraud as SEC Files Manipulative Trading Charges

The SEC’s complaint contends that Beaufort and Kyriacou became involved in a pump-and-dump scam with a man that they didn’t know was working for the FBI. With him, they purportedly spoke about using promotions to raise stock prices, engaging in matched trades to affect the stock price, and selling the shares to make a profit.

The SEC filed another complaint contending that in recorded phone calls, HD View CEO Dennis Mancino and CEO of WT Consulting Group LLC William T. Hirschy consented to manipulate the company’s stock by utilizing the undercover agent’s broker network to create a “fraudulent” demand. The two of them were supposed to “manipulate HD View stock” so that its price would go up prior to having the brokers in the agent’s network liquidate their positions. In return, there would be a kickback paid from the money made from trading. The regulator has also filed civil charges against Mancino, Hirschy, and the entities TJM Investments Inc., WT Consulting Group, and DJK Investments 10 Inc.

Meantime, the US Justice Department has brought criminal charges against Beaufort, Kyriacou, Mancino, and others for their alleged involvement in an over $50M stock scam. Prosecutors contend that the broker-dealer, Kyriacou and Vinesh Canay, who was another Beaufort investment manager, hid their ownership in US stocks that they were manipulating. Eight defendants are accused of scheming to launder the money made by the scam that even involved a painting by Pablo Picasso. Loyal Bank Ltd., and offshore bank, is one of the defendants, as are three corporate entities and three other individuals, including London art gallery owner Mathew Green.

The SSEK Partners Group represents investors throughout the US in helping them to recoup their securities fraud losses.

SEC Charges U.K. Brokerage Firm, Investment Manager, CEO, and Others for Manipulative Trading in U.S. Microcap Stocks, SEC, March 2, 2018

U.S. charges 10 in alleged global stock fraud involving a Picasso, Reuters, March 2, 2018

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