Efstratios "Elias" Argyropoulos and Prima Capital Group, Inc.

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 23411 / November 20, 2015

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Efstratios "Elias" Argyropoulos and Prima Capital Group, Inc., Civil Action No. 14-cv-09800 RJK (JPRx) (C.D. Cal.)

Final Judgment Entered Against California-Based Unregistered Broker Alleged to Have Fraudulently Offered and Sold Pre-IPO Facebook and Twitter Shares; Defendants Ordered to Pay Over $3 Million in Monetary Relief

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on September 29, 2015, a final judgment was entered against Efstratios "Elias" Argyropoulos of Santa Barbara, California, and his solely owned company, Prima Capital Group, Inc., by a United States District Judge in Los Angeles.  In addition to the permanent injunction to which the defendants had previously consented, the Court granted the Commission's motion for monetary relief, finding the defendants jointly and severally liable for disgorgement of $1,495,657, together with prejudgment interest of $84,239.59 totaling $1,579,896.59, and additionally ordering Argyropoulos to pay a civil penalty of $1,495,697. 

On December 23, 2014, the Commission filed the action, alleging that the defendants fraudulently raised nearly $3.5 million from investors purportedly to purchase Facebook and Twitter shares prior to the companies' initial public offerings (IPOs).  Instead of purchasing the shares in the secondary market as promised, the defendants misappropriated investor funds.  They used the money primarily for day trading of stocks and options as well as to pay off certain investors who complained when they didn't receive the promised Facebook or Twitter shares.

Argyropoulos and Prima Capital agreed to settle the SEC's charges and to be barred from working for an investment adviser or broker-dealer when the action was filed, and further agreed that monetary relief would be determined at a later date.

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC's complaint, Argyropoulos and Prima consented to a judgment permanently enjoining them from violations of the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the antifraud and broker-dealer registration provisions of Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. 

See also: Litigation Release No. 23169 (December 23, 2014); Securities Exchange Act Rel. No. 74248 (February 11, 2015); Securities Exchange Act Rel. No. 73924 and Investment Company Act Rel. No. 31398 (December 23, 2014); Initial Decision Rel. No. 857 (August 17, 2015).