SEC Charges Founder of Frank with Fraud in Connection with $175 million Sale of Student Loan Assistance Company

SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Charlie Javice, the founder of the now shuttered student loan assistance company previously known as Frank, with fraud in connection with the $175 million sale of the company to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (JPMC) in 2021. The SEC’s complaint alleges that Javice orchestrated a scheme to deceive JPMC into believing that Frank had access to valuable data on 4.25 million students who used Frank’s service when in reality the number was less than 300,000. read more »

Texas Laboratory Agrees to Pay $5.9 Million to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Third Party Marketers and Unnecessary Drug Tests

DOJ

Genotox Laboratories Ltd., of Austin, Texas, has agreed to pay at least $5.9 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it paid volume-based commissions to third party marketers in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and submitted claims to federal health care programs for unnecessary drug tests. In parallel proceedings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas and Genotox entered into an eighteen-month Deferred Prosecution Agreement to resolve a criminal investigation regarding the same conduct. read more »

SEC Charges Merrill Lynch for Failing to Disclose Foreign Exchange Fees to Clients

SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for charging advisory clients more than $4 million in undisclosed foreign exchange fees for transfers to or from their accounts. To settle the charges, Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty totaling more than $9.5 million and has agreed to distribute funds to harmed clients. read more »