UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 15967 / November 5, 1998 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. PETER JOSEPH CAMMARANO AND CAMMARANO AND ASSOCIATES, INC., H-98-3707, USDC, SD/TX (Houston Division) SEC CHARGES BROKER WITH STEALING INVESTOR FUNDS On November 4, 1998, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed an emergency action to halt the fraudulent activities of Peter Joseph Cammarano, a former licensed securities salesman who, the Commission charges, misappropriated up to $1.5 million of investor funds, including retirement funds, from at least 24 investors in the Houston, Texas area. Judge Sim Lake, federal district judge for the Southern District of Texas, granted the Commission's request and entered a temporary restraining order and asset freeze on November 4 against Cammarano and Cammarano and Associates, Inc. (CAI), an unregistered brokerage business owned by Cammarano. The Commission's complaint alleges that Cammarano solicited clients to liquidate or transfer their retirement money and other investments to a CAI business account for the stated purpose of purchasing securities and other investments in those accounts. Cammarano provided his customers with confirmations and account statements on CAI letterhead, reflecting that securities or other investments had purportedly been purchased for the customers' account; however, contrary to Cammarano's representations to his clients, Cammarano deposited the clients' funds into bank accounts that he controlled. According to the complaint, Cammarano recently misrepresented to an elderly woman that her $125,000 transfer of retirement funds into a CAI business account would be used to invest in shares of Exxon and money market instruments, and solicited $100,000 from another elderly customer for the intended purpose of purchasing money market instruments. In fact, neither of these investments were ever made. The Commission seeks a Court order permanently enjoining Cammarano and CAI from engaging in further violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 10(b) and 15(a)(1)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The Commission also seeks a sworn accounting of all investor funds or assets received by Cammarano and CAI, disgorgement of all wrongfully obtained profits, and a payment of civil penalties. The Commission would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance of NASDR District 6, the Texas Securities Board, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. SEC CHARGES BROKER WITH STEALING INVESTOR FUNDS On November 4, the Commission filed an emergency action to halt the fraudulent activities of Peter Joseph Cammarano, a former licensed securities salesman who, the Commission charges, misappropriated up to $1.5 million of investor funds, including retirement funds, from investors in the Houston, Texas area. Judge Sim Lake, federal district judge for the Southern District of Texas, granted the Commission's request and entered a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against Cammarano and Cammarano and Associates, Inc. (CAI), an unregistered brokerage business owned by Cammarano. The Commission's complaint alleges that Cammarano solicited clients to liquidate or transfer their retirement money and other investments to a CAI business account for the stated purpose of purchasing securities and other investments in those accounts. Cammarano provided his customers with confirmations and account statements on CAI letterhead, reflecting that securities or other investments had purportedly been purchased for the customers' account; however, contrary to Cammarano's representations to his clients, Cammarano deposited the clients' funds into bank accounts that he controlled. According to the complaint, Cammarano recently misrepresented to an elderly woman that her $125,000 transfer of retirement funds into a CAI business account would be used to invest in shares of Exxon and money market instruments, and solicited $100,000 from another elderly customer for the intended purpose of purchasing money market instruments. In fact, neither of these investments were ever made. The Commission seeks a Court order permanently enjoining Cammarano and CAI from engaging in further violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) and 15(a)(1)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The Commission also seeks a sworn accounting of all investor funds or assets received by Cammarano and CAI, disgorgement of all wrongfully obtained profits, and a payment of civil penalties.. [SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. PETER JOSEPH CAMMARANO AND CAMMARANO AND ASSOCIATES, INC., H-98-3707, USDC, SD/TX (Houston Division)] (LR- ) Jeffrey B. Norris Trial Counsel Fort Worth District Office 817/978-6452