UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

LITIGATION RELEASE NO. 17822 / October 31, 2002

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. HOMER T. LANGRILL AND THOMAS W. BECKER, No. CV- S-02-1446-KJD-LRL (USDC D. Nevada).

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") announced that it filed a civil injunctive action on October 31, 2002 against current or former Nevada residents Homer T. Langrill and Thomas W. Becker. The Commission's complaint alleges that Langrill and Becker issued false and misleading public statements about a publicly traded but legally defunct microcap company, Greater Northwest Research & Development Group, Inc. ("Greater Northwest"). The complaint further alleges that these statements concerned the undisclosed control of Greater Northwest by Langrill, a recidivist with multiple felony convictions, the identity of the members of its board of directors, and its legal status, financial condition, acquisition of other companies, future financial performance, and eligibility for quotation on the OTC Bulletin Board. Moreover, the complaint alleges that Langrill and Becker sold restricted Greater Northwest stock in unregistered transactions for profits of at least $24,537 and $46,400, respectively, while the false statements were disseminated through press releases, an Internet website, and a cable television infomercial. According to the complaint, Langrill and Becker failed to file mandatory periodic and current reports with the Commission on behalf of Greater Northwest since 1996, and further failed to report their beneficial ownership and disposition of Greater Northwest stock.

The Commission's complaint alleges that Langrill and Becker: (1) violated Sections 5(a), and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, Sections 10(b), 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Rules 10b-5, 13d-1, 13d-2, 16a-2, and 16a-3 thereunder; and (2) aided and abetted the violations of Greater Northwest of Sections 13(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-1, 13a-11 and 13a-13 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement, prejudgment interest, penny stock bars, officer and director bars, and third-tier civil penalties against Langrill and Becker.

SEC Complaint in this matter