Enforcement, Investors

Ozy Media and Executives Charged with Defrauding Investors of $50 Million

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged media and entertainment company Ozy Media Inc. and its executives with defrauding investors of approximately $50 million through misrepresentations regarding the company’s financial condition, business relationships, and fundraising efforts. The CEO of Ozy Media, Carlos R. Watson, Jr., the former COO Samir Rao, and the former Chief of Staff Suzee Han are among those charged.

Misrepresentations and False Financial Information

According to the SEC‘s complaint, from January 2019 through September 2021, the defendants repeatedly and purposely presented prospective investors with false financial information that grossly inflated Ozy Media’s annual revenue by at least 100 percent. Watson and Rao allegedly solicited investments by falsely claiming that well-known and sophisticated investors would be investing in Ozy Media.

Impersonation of an Executive from YouTube

The SEC’s complaint further alleges that Watson and Rao orchestrated a scheme in which Rao impersonated an executive from YouTube in an effort to support Ozy Media’s false claims to a prospective investor that the company was receiving licensing revenue from YouTube when it was not. When the prospective investor discovered the ruse, Watson falsely attributed Rao’s impersonation to a “mental health crisis” and made these claims to both the prospective investor and Ozy Media’s Board of Directors.

Charges and Penalties

The SEC’s complaint charges the defendants with violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and related rules. The SEC seeks injunctive relief and civil penalties against all defendants, officer and director bars against Watson and Rao, and disgorgement with prejudgment interest against Ozy Media and Watson.

Rao has agreed to the entry of a judgment enjoining him from violating the charged provisions and from serving, for a period of ten years, as an officer or director of a publicly traded company, with civil monetary penalties to be determined by the court at a later date. Han has also consented to the entry of a judgment permanently enjoining her from violating the charged provisions, with civil monetary penalties to be determined by the court at a later date. The judgments are subject to court approval.

Criminal Charges

In addition to the SEC’s charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has announced criminal charges against Ozy Media, Watson, Rao, and Han.

Investor Protection

Gurbir S. Grewal, the SEC’s Director of Enforcement, commented, “We allege that over the course of several years, the defendants raised approximately $50 million from victim investors on the basis of fraudulent documents and repeated misrepresentations, including, at least in one case, falsely impersonating a potential business partner during a meeting with an investment bank. This matter underscores that we will hold anyone accountable, even well-known media personalities, for misrepresentations that impact investors.”

The SEC’s charges serve as a reminder that investors must remain vigilant and conduct proper due diligence before investing. The SEC’s actions demonstrate its commitment to investor protection and holding accountable those who defraud investors.

 


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Securities Attorney at Sallah Astarita & Cox | 212-509-6544 | mja@sallahlaw.com | Website | + posts

Mark Astarita is a nationally recognized securities attorney, who represents investors, financial professionals and firms in securities litigation, arbitration and regulatory matters, including SEC and FINRA investigations and enforcement proceedings.

He is a partner in the national securities law firm Sallah Astarita & Cox, LLC, and the founder of The Securities Law Home Page - SECLaw.com, which was one of the first legal topic sites on the Internet. It went online in 1995 and is updated daily with news, commentary and securities law related links.

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