World Hockey Association Corp. (fka WHKA)

[Zorax]

This stock may pick up soon!

[Zorax]

This might mean the stock can be traded.

[Zorax]

whka chill lifted.
http://www.dtcc.com/downloads/legal/imp_notices/2013/dtc/ope/1656-13.pdf

[dalopey]

How is that MOFO NOT IN FRIGGIN JAIL yet????? What a complete tool. I will always have 813 shares of this shitty stock just to remind myself of the terrible lesson I learned the hard way. There's a whole section of hell reserved for this Ricky Smith and his wife Con-Artists.

Now he's gone and screwed some baseball guys - is that the jist I'm getting here?? wow.... just wow.

[Zorax]

Apparently this stock has gone dormant.
Still trying to locate some recent news developments.

Hasn’t traded since march 2009?

[Zorax]

Been researching for new NEWS...
none yet.

[Zorax]

Did Rick have a sports team before hockey? I wonder how far back the problems with his entities goes?

[Zorax]

I guess Ricky has his technique down pat. Act like big time prez, collect a bunch of money up front and then stiff everybody and split.

[JrEh]

Golden Glove Professional Baseball Loses Affiliation with Yuma Scorpions

July 23, 2010...6:35 am

http://ballparkbiz.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/golden-glove-professional-baseball-loses-affiliation-with-yuma-scorpions/

PRESS RELEASE – Diamond Sports & Entertainment announced today that the U.S. subsidiary of Golden Glove Professional Baseball (GGPB) of Venezuela has had it’s affiliation agreement with the Yuma Scorpions terminated due to lack of ability to meet their financial obligations with the team, business partners, vendors, and service companies in the Yuma area.
Diamond Sports, the owner of the Yuma franchise in the Golden Baseball League, is stepping in, effective today, to provide the ongoing financial and management support to the team to enable it to continue the successful season it has been enjoying.

Despite repeated assurances from GGPB President Ricky Smith, and his co-owner wife Romy Acevedo Smith, that financial resources were just temporarily unavailable due to difficulty in transferring money from Venezuela, unpaid payroll to players and staff along with unpaid bills to hotels and for baseball equipment had gone unaddressed since early June. Smith had brought in over 40 Venezuelan players promising them a chance to play professionally in the U.S. and the team was having success on the field, but mounting debts resulted in him departing Yuma with no communication to the team, league, or his players on Sunday.

“We are incredibly disappointed with the actions of GGPB led by Ricky and Romy Smith,” said Diamond Sports Chief Executive Officer David Kaval. “We are taking control of the baseball operations immediately to provide ongoing resources and support for the team. We will be working through legal processes to pursue GGPB and Mr. Smith to hold them accountable for their actions and obligations to our company, the Golden Baseball League, players, vendors, and all other entities that they have damaged

[JrEh]

Tricky Ricky is Gracious Enough to Extend His Sports Management Expertise to the World of Minor League Ball..

From the Yuma Sun

http://www.yumasun.com/news/smith-63199-league-zerpa.html

GBL CEO eyes legal options
Comments 5
August 16, 2010 8:50 PM
BY EDWARD CARIFIO - SUN STAFF WRITER
The Golden Baseball League's recent short-lived affiliation with the Golden Gloves Professional Baseball has left league CEO Dave Kaval searching for answers.

The answer to one of those questions — What to do now? — has already been answered. Kaval said he is exploring the league's options and is planning to seek legal action against GGPB president Ricky Smith.

The answer to another question — How did this happen? — is a lot more complicated.

If the lawsuit goes through, it's just one of many payroll-related legal issues Smith has had over the past decade, mostly stemming from his time as CEO of the World Hockey Association Junior Hockey League, including a $4.3 million judgment against the organization for dilution of the company's stock.

Kaval said he was unaware of the legal battles in Smith's past. According to Kaval, the league vetted and then signed an affiliation deal with the Venezuela Baseball Federation and its president, Edwin Zerpa, in hopes of building the Scorpions into a successful team. After the deal was signed, Zerpa brought in Smith to run the operations in Yuma.

“When we signed the deal, it was primarily signed with an entity called the Venezuelan Baseball Federation,” Kaval said. “Our negotiations started with (Zerpa), and (the federation) seemed almost like part of the state government, like the U.S. Olympic Committee. They were the ones we originally dealt with. They were the ones that brought Ricky to the table as someone who could help implement it. ... He was well-regarded in the highest circles in Venezuela in the government and with the professional teams.”

However, Zerpa said he barely knew Smith and that Smith represented himself as president of the GBL.

“We are totally separated from him,” Zerpa said. “We have nothing to do with him, there is no relationship with him. ... I never met him in person. I wasn't in Venezuela when he came to talk to the players. He said he was the league president and we don't even know if that is true.”

Zerpa said repeatedly that Smith “doesn't have our support” and only came into contact with Smith through Romy Acevedo. He said that Acevedo contacted him about Smith, who is her husband.

“We investigated her and learned she was wanted by Interpol, so we cut off all connections to her,” Zerpa said.

However, both Kaval and GBL commissioner Kevin Outcalt said Zerpa never informed them about this development. Kaval said he doubted the validity of Zerpa's statement.

An affiliation deal with the Colombian pro league in 2009 resulted in a league-worst record of 29-47 for the Scorpions. Kaval said the league was interested in making sure a more competitive team was put on the field than in 2009.

“The key thing we were trying to vet was his ability to bring talented players to the team,” he said. “The year before, the team wasn't good enough, so our primary focus was making sure they had good players.”

But Zerpa said the players Smith brought were not affiliated with the VBF.

“(Smith) came looking for players and they went on their own,” said Zerpa, who added there was no legal contract with the federation.

However, Kaval said not only did the players tell him they were contracted through the VBF, he met many of the players who would become Scorpions on a trip to Venezuela. Outcalt made a preseason trip to Venezuela to hammer out the affiliation deal and met with top federation officials and was introduced to players by the VBF who would later become Scorpions.

Wherever Smith came from, Kaval's hopes of a competitive team were fulfilled as the team finished in a statistical tie for first place but lost out on the tiebreaker.

The team may have been competitive, but the salaries certainly weren't being paid. On July 11, Scorpion pitching coach Bill Pulsipher told the Yuma Sun that most players had not been paid for nearly a month and a half as Smith withheld their paychecks. He continued that trend with local businesses, including the Shilo Inn, which housed several of the team's players during the season. Yuma Police Department public information officer Leanne Worthen said the Shilo Inn was considering pressing charges against Smith for not paying $15,000 he owed, but decided to pursue the case in civil court.

Smith was named as a defendant in multiple court cases during his time as CEO of the WHA Junior Hockey League. According to a public records site, his junior hockey league, which was based out of Vancouver, Canada, had 10 cases filed against it, at least four of which involved non-payment of personnel.

Multiple calls to Smith seeking comment went unanswered and his cell phone voicemail box was full.

According to legal documents, this is a pattern Smith established with the WHA. There were at least four prior instances of the WHA not paying bills and being sued by those who were owed money.

In a case involving Osoyoos, British Columbia, in 2007, Smith and the WHA were ordered to pay five staff members $22,000 in back pay, according to the Osoyoos Times. Smith and the league appealed the decision, but eventually settled. Similar cases happened in New Westminster, British Columbia, and Golden, British Columbia, with their WHA teams. According to local newspapers, both cities were owed money and threatened lawsuits.

The only suit filed with a judgement, according to the Canadian market website Stockwatch, was one filed by Vancouver Tours, which won a settlement of more than $70,000 for unpaid bus fares.

Sun sports editor Matt Maxson and staff writer Mara Knaub contributed to this report.

[polux]

Why is this stock suspended by SEC?

[invitro]

It looks that way.

[polux]

is this stock DEAD?

[invitro]

Happy Christmas one and all!

[Blackcat7717]

How can the stock trade after SEC suspension. I thought a MM
had to file 15c211 with the Pink sheets in order to trade.
Can someone help me with how this trading took place. It was a total of 3 trades for 695,000 total shares.
Thank You
Blackcat7717

[polux]

SOME MOVE UP!

[jabbed]

"Hesitancy by numerous players to commit to playing ... eventually obliged the Plaintiffs to cancel the season due to uncertainty," the suit states.

Now thats funny. Thats why they canceled the season,eh?

[@-@]

What is the SEC's basis for implying this shell was hijacked?

SEC Suspends Trading in 17 Companies to Combat Corporate Hijackings
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the temporary suspension, pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of trading of the securities of the following 17 companies at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Sept. 23, 2009, and terminating at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 2009: AEI Transportation Holdings, Inc. (DTGP) of Seattle, Washington; The Alcar Chemicals Group, Inc. (ALCX) of Vercheres, Quebec; China Adnet Enterprises, Inc. (CAEJ) of New York, New York; Innolife Pharma, Inc. (INNP) of Toronto, Ontario; KSW Industries, Inc. (KSWJ) of Etobicoke, Ontario; Level Vision Electronics, Inc. (LVLV) of Montreal, Quebec; Life Exchange, Inc. (LFXG) of Miami, Florida; Lotta Coal, Inc. (LCOL) of Calgary, Alberta; Magellan Energy Ltd. (MGLG) of Mississauga, Ontario; Marinas International, Inc. (MNSI) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Microlink Solutions, Inc. (PKTO) of Calgary, Alberta; UDS Group, Inc. (UDSG) of Boca Raton, Florida; United Environmental Energy Corp. (UTEM) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Uptrend Corp. (UPCP) of Shinjingshan District, Beijing; VShield Software Corp. (VSHE) of Henderson, Nevada, World Hockey Association Corp. (WHKA) of Oldsmar, Florida; and WW Energy, Inc. (WWNG) of Farmington, New Mexico.

The Commission temporarily suspended trading in the securities of the 17 companies because of questions that have been raised about the accuracy and adequacy of publicly disseminated information concerning their status as publicly-traded companies. Specifically, certain persons appear to have either: 1) usurped the identity of defunct or inactive publicly traded corporations, initially by incorporating new entities using the same names as each of the defunct entities, or 2) reinstated defunct publicly traded corporations without authorization. (Rel. 34-60707)

[@-@]

World Hockey's Smith sues Hockey Canada


2009-12-02 14:35 ET - Street Wire


by Mike Caswell

The World Hockey Association, a hockey league once owned by Ricky Smith's World Hockey Association Corp., has filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the national governing body for ice hockey. It claims that Hockey Canada and others conspired to keep players from joining the WHA, thereby leading to its shutdown at the start of the 2008-2009 season.

According to the suit, Hockey Canada circulated a memo in July, 2008, threatening to penalize players who joined "outlaw" leagues such as the WHA. Those who played for these leagues would be banned from Hockey Canada membership for up to a year. This effectively discouraged players from joining the WHA, the suit claims.

It appears that Mr. Smith's former pink sheets company, World Hockey Association Corp., is not a plaintiff in the case. The suit names the plaintiffs as Mr. Smith and "Renaissance Hockey Group Inc., operating as World Hockey Association." World Hockey Association Corp. ran the league during 2006 and 2007, but it is not clear what the company has done since then. It stopped issuing news in July, 2007, and it has no filings.

Smith's lawsuit

Mr. Smith filed a statement of claim on Nov. 24, 2009, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The defendants are Hockey Canada and two affiliated organizations, B.C. Hockey and the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. Also named are former WHA coach Matt Samson, the District of Squamish and the manager of recreation services in Squamish, Janet Gugins.

The trouble began in December, 2007, when Hockey Canada started considering sanctions for players, coaches, officials, municipalities and arenas who associated with outlaw leagues such as the WHA, the suit states. Hockey Canada officials put the idea to a vote at its May, 2008, annual general meeting. The vote passed (the suit does not state by how much), resulting in Hockey Canada and its provincial affiliate B.C. Hockey writing "action bulletins" throughout the hockey community in Canada, the United States and Europe.

The WHA claims that the bulletins wrongfully discouraged players and others from participating in the WHA. The bulletins, which are attached to the suit, stated that Hockey Canada would not offer regional or national championships to any municipalities or arenas that supported outlaw leagues. Moreover, it would suspend any players who played in outlaw leagues, with the length of the suspension to be determined based on the number of games played. One game in an outlaw league would net a three-month suspension, while more than 10 games would net a 12-month suspension.

During the summer of 2008, the WHA had signed up over 200 players for its 2008-2009 hockey season. According to the suit, these players became hesitant when they learned of the action bulletins. They were concerned how participation in the WHA would affect their future hockey opportunities. "Hesitancy by numerous players to commit to playing ... eventually obliged the Plaintiffs to cancel the season due to uncertainty," the suit states.

In addition to the other allegations, the WHA says the action bulletins were defamatory. They did not refer to the WHA by name, but according to the suit, the WHA was their primary target. They stated that outlaw leagues undermined Hockey Canada, and that outlaw leagues lacked overall outlook in the development of players, officials, administrators and coaches.

The WHA claims it had been successful as a for-profit league prior to the action bulletins. It had run for two seasons, and had teams in six communities that the PIJHL did not serve. It had also planned four expansion teams for the 2008-2009 season.

The WHA's most successful franchise in terms of fan support, sponsors, ticket sales and economics was the Squamish Cougars. Mr. Samson managed and coached the team. The lawsuit states that the success of the team was well known to the PIJHL in 2008.

Unknown to the WHA, Mr. Samson secretly sought and accepted a PIJHL franchise for Squamish, closing the deal in March, 2008, the suit claims. In seeking the deal, he breached the terms of his employment contract with World Hockey and he breached fiduciary duties owed to the WHA.

The negotiations also included the District of Squamish, which had leased the Brennan Park Recreation Centre Arena to the WHA, for use by the Squamish Cougars. The district had agreed to advise the WHA of any negotiation that would conflict with the WHA's use of the arena, but it did not do so, the suit states.

As a result of the conspiracy amongst the defendants, the WHA has suffered the loss of opportunity to expand its league, the suit alleges. The suit seeks general, special, aggravated and punitive damages, plus interest and costs. Vancouver lawyer David Sutherland filed the suit on behalf of the WHA and Mr. Smith.

None of the defendants have replied to the allegations.

Prior World Hockey lawsuits

While the WHA is the plaintiff in this lawsuit, its former owner, World Hockey Association Corp., has been the defendant in many prior suits, at least some of which were for unpaid bills. The plaintiffs in these cases included the cities of New Westminster and Osoyoos, and Vancouver Tours and Transit Ltd., a bus operator. The only suit with a judgment is the one filed by Vancouver Tours, which won a $71,348 order against World Hockey Association Corp. on March 2, 2007, for unpaid bus fares.

The company was also in a lengthy legal dispute with a former shareholder, John Briner's Global Developments Inc. Global sued World Hockey Association Corp. on Feb. 15, 2007, in the District of Nevada, alleging that World Hockey issued 200 million shares and diluted Global's interest in the company. World Hockey responded with a counterclaim, alleging that Mr. Briner and others connected to him were responsible for the dilution. Global Developments won a $4.3-million (U.S.) decision on Jan. 16, 2009.

World Hockey Association Corp. last traded for three-100ths of a penny. The stock's high, since it rolled back 1:100 on June 12, 2006, is 95 cents.

[polux]

Whats going on with this stock? Its any chance to reveal it?

[Fire Lane]

And here comes Bobby Hull!!!! check out the latest court documents. everything is on hold now

[spongerbob214]

stoked where ya been ,,no more wamuq

[AmmoDawg]

https://materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/98148A/20090929/SHLTR_46846.PDF

News just came to me

[Phoenix-Rising]

Heres the litigation for the highjacking

09/29/2009 1 COMPLAINT against 1621566 Ontario, Inc., Irwin Boock, Stanton B.J. Defreitas, Nicolette D. Loisel, Roger L. Shoss, Jason C. Wong, Birte Boock. Document filed by Securities and Exchange Commission.(mro) (ama). (Entered: 09/29/2009)
-----------------

Doc 1 - PDF file
http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/x8Ocy

(thanks to poster SCION for uploading the document)

[pennyslotsinvegas]

So what happens now Jim, is there a way for us common share suckers to go after the promoters, the officers and the insiders of the company when it first kicked off?

I am sure Briner wasnt the only hand in the cookie jar here when it launched.

[Jim Bishop]

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") announced the temporary suspension, pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), of trading in the securities of the following 17 companies at 9:30 a.m. EDT on September 23, 2009, and terminating at 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 6, 2009:

AEI Transportation Holdings, Inc. (DTGP) of Seattle, Washington;
The Alcar Chemicals Group, Inc. (ALCX) of Vercheres, Quebec;
China Adnet Enterprises, Inc. (CAEJ) of New York, New York;
Innolife Pharma, Inc. (INNP) of Toronto, Ontario;
KSW Industries, Inc. (KSWJ) of Etobicoke, Ontario;
Level Vision Electronics, Inc. (LVLV) of Montreal, Quebec;
Life Exchange, Inc. (LFXG) of Miami, Florida;
Lotta Coal, Inc (LCOL) of Calgary, Alberta;
Magellan Energy Ltd. (MGLG) of Mississauga, Ontario;
Marinas International, Inc. (MNSI) of Cincinnati, Ohio;
Microlink Solutions, Inc. (PKTO) of Calgary, Alberta;
UDS Group, Inc. (UDSG) of Boca Raton, Florida;
United Environmental Energy Corp. (UTEM) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida;
Uptrend Corp. (UPCP) of Shinjingshan District, Beijing;
VShield Software Corp. (VSHE) of Henderson, Nevada,
World Hockey Association Corp. (WHKA) of Oldsmar, Florida; and
WW Energy, Inc. (WWNG) of Farmington, New Mexico.

The Commission temporarily suspended trading in the securities of the 17 companies because of questions that have been raised about the accuracy and adequacy of publicly disseminated information concerning their status as publicly-traded companies. Specifically, certain persons appear to have either: 1) usurped the identity of defunct or inactive publicly traded corporations, initially by incorporating new entities using the same names as each of the defunct entities, or 2) reinstated defunct publicly traded corporations without authorization.

The Commission cautions brokers, dealers, shareholders, and prospective purchasers that they should carefully consider the foregoing information along with all other currently available information and any information subsequently issued by the suspended companies.

Further, brokers and dealers should be alert to the fact that, pursuant to Rule 15c2-11 under the Exchange Act, at the termination of the trading suspension, no quotation may be entered unless and until they have strictly complied with all of the provisions of the rule. If any broker or dealer has any questions as to whether or not he has complied with the rule, he should not enter any quotation but immediately contact the staff in the Division of Trading and Markets, Office of Interpretation and Guidance, at (202) 5515777. If any broker or dealer is uncertain as to what is required by Rule 15c2-11, he should refrain from entering quotations relating to the securities of any of the foregoing 17 companies until such time as he has familiarized himself with the rule and is certain
that all of its provisions have been met. If any broker or dealer enters any quotation which is in violation of the rule, the Commission will consider prompt enforcement action.
If any broker dealer or other person has any information that may relate to this matter, it or he should contact John Polise, Assistant Director, Division of Enforcement by calling 202-551-4600 or sending an email to [e-mail].

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/suspensions/2009/34-60707.pdf

[Jim Bishop]

The Commission temporarily suspended trading in the securities of the 17 companies because of questions that have been raised about the accuracy and adequacy of publicly disseminated information concerning their status as publicly-traded companies.

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Release No. 60707 / September 23, 2009

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") announced the temporary suspension, pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), of trading in the securities of the following 17 companies at 9:30 a.m. EDT on September 23, 2009, and terminating at 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 6, 2009: AEI Transportation Holdings, Inc. (DTGP) of Seattle, Washington; The Alcar Chemicals Group, Inc. (ALCX) of Vercheres, Quebec; China Adnet Enterprises, Inc. (CAEJ) of New York, New York; Innolife Pharma, Inc. (INNP) of Toronto, Ontario; KSW Industries, Inc. (KSWJ) of Etobicoke, Ontario; Level Vision Electronics, Inc. (LVLV) of Montreal, Quebec; Life Exchange, Inc. (LFXG) of Miami, Florida; Lotta Coal, Inc (LCOL) of Calgary, Alberta; Magellan Energy Ltd. (MGLG) of Mississauga, Ontario; Marinas International, Inc. (MNSI) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Microlink Solutions, Inc. (PKTO) of Calgary, Alberta; UDS Group, Inc. (UDSG) of Boca Raton, Florida; United Environmental Energy Corp. (UTEM) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Uptrend Corp. (UPCP) of Shinjingshan District, Beijing; VShield Software Corp. (VSHE) of Henderson, Nevada, World Hockey Association Corp. (WHKA) of Oldsmar, Florida; and WW Energy, Inc. (WWNG) of Farmington, New Mexico.
[...]

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/suspensions/2009/34-60707.pdf

[invitro]

Recon so. Dead and buried.

[dbonethatsteak]

Is this stock dead? WHKA?

[bbman123]

Yes, but I feel so much richer with the share price sitting at .001. Oh the fond remembrance on .01.

[invitro]

Bordering on the narcoleptic!

Hello all! Still chewing the fat on this one I see!

invitro

[stokednvegas]

Somethings up. .01 by hockey season.

just sayin

[Kryzbutiful]

Anyone know share structure here? This looks like a good stock.

[ArmStock2009]

I still have my position as well, this was a big surprise for me. Anyone know the reason for this sudden action?

[bman]

Thanks, good luck to you, as well.

[polux]

UUUUUPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP. Something si breewing

[polux]

Like I said before - This stock is the SLEEPING MONSTER

[DDdollars]

Nice volume here today. Giddy-up. eom.

[bbman123]

Good to see some other old names still holding this bag with me. Actually I first got in to this stock by what you describe. I had some Grand Lux stock that turned in to a shell and was changed to WHKA. It will happen again eventually. But the first thing will be a reverse split, like 1000 to 1, at least that was what happened with the prior entity.

As of now this is just a dead zone. Good luck with anything else you get in to. Thankfully this was my only one that turned in to a real dog. Look at SRZ for a strong company with a turnaround play in the middle of the works.

[bman]

It would be nice if a non-public company chose to make use of WHKA as a vehicle to go public. Sometimes it's easier to go public in that manner than the conventional way. At least that's what I've read at times in the past. I was involved in a stock once that I thought was dead, when something similar to that happened. I was celebrating big time. Here's to hoping that happens here.

[Blackcat7717]

Hello, everyone I have stayed away from all stocks for almost 2 years. Started recently. Is WHKA still alive as a shell or a company? Still have my position. Can anyone bring me up to date.
Thank You
Blackcat

[overachiever]

They have suspended several of his deals. One of these days the dunces might be able to put two and two together and figure out the common element. I noticed he was working with Dan Ryan on that one. Another total scumbag liar pump and dump specialist..

[EarnestDD]

Maybe there will be a sting operation to catch him like they did Trevor Koenig or Mark Valentine.
jmo

[overachiever]

When are they going to arrest that guy? He has been a flagrant abuser of the rules and regulations. There is a large amount of incriminating evidence on that scam artist.

[EarnestDD]

And now another Briner scam PYGC (Patriot Energy) has been halted by the SEC.

[Upset Hockey Fan]

Well Folks

Ricky Smith is no longer living in south surrey. He apparently is back in Costa Rica. Good riddance.

[Upset Hockey Fan]

Ricky Smith was cashing checks intended for the account of WHA and putting his personal name on them. And there are 18 families that were to get refunds promised by Ricky and guess what they never did.


Smith you belong in the Hall of Shame.


The full file is going to the RCMP/ BCSC/SEC

[Upset Hockey Fan]

I think you are mistaken. I have spoken several times to Curt he is now the receiver and although he did business with Briner four years ago he no longer has any ties and has reported him to the law society.


Apparently the full file will be handed over to the SEC shortly.

[overachiever]

Lehner is one of Briner's buddies.

[overachiever]

More On Briner's Nexus Asset Holdings partner, Phillip Offill who was recently arrested for fraud. Briner could be "on deck".

(Note the last sentence)

SEC target Offill indicted for fraud

2009-03-13 19:54 ET - Street Wire

Also Street Wire (U-*SEC) U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Also Street Wire (U-AVLL) AVL GLobal Inc

by Mike Caswell

Phillip Offill, a former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement lawyer, has been indicted on 10 counts of fraud. Prosecutors allege that he was part of a scheme to issue unregistered shares in nine companies that traded on the OTC Bulletin Board and on the pink sheets. One of those companies was AVL Global Inc., which was run by Ontario father and son Peter and Tyler Fisher. The charges against Mr. Offill come two days after one of his alleged co-conspirators, Arizona securities lawyer David Stocker, pled guilty to one count of fraud. On March 11, 2009, Mr. Stocker admitted that he helped with the improper issuance of shares in 19 companies that became pump-and-dumps, eight of which are also named in Mr. Offill's indictment.

Offill's indictment

Prosecutors filed the indictment against Mr. Offill in the Eastern District of Virginia on March 12, 2009. It was sealed until Friday, when he was arrested in Dallas, Tex. According to the indictment, Mr. Offill and Mr. Stocker devised a scheme to issue free-trading shares of eight companies. Once they issued the shares, others pumped and dumped the stocks, the indictment states.

One of those companies was AVL Global, which was allegedly pumped and dumped by the Fishers. Prosecutors say Mr. Offill and Mr. Stocker caused the improper issue of 10 million free-trading shares of AVL Global. The alleged scheme began on July 27, 2004, when Mr. Offill signed a subscription agreement purporting to buy five million shares of the company for $50,000. The company had recently been incorporated in Nevada, and was not yet active. The same day, he allegedly sent Mr. Stocker a signed, blank stock transfer form for the shares. Prosecutors allege that Mr. Stocker then issued an opinion letter stating that the five million shares complied with Rule 504, and were exempt from resale restrictions. This meant that these shares could now be freely traded.

Virginia prosecutors say Mr. Offill and Mr. Stocker carried out similar schemes with eight other companies. "Offill and Stocker devised a method to evade federal securities registration requirements ... in order to provide co-conspirators with millions of unregistered and unrestricted, i.e., 'free-trading,' shares of Issuers' common stock, which the co-conspirators could not legally obtain directly from the Issuers, for sale to the general investing public," the indictment reads. They allegedly gave the appearance that the shares were being issued to early investors for investment purposes, and not for distribution to the public.

Mr. Offill's alleged co-conspirators, who were separately indicted in earlier cases, included Justin Medlin, a spammer from Paris, France, also known as "The Kid." The indictment claims that he operated a spam business that touted three of the companies, Emerging Holdings Inc., MassClick Inc. and China Score Inc. Mr. Medlin received a six-year sentence for his role in the scheme. The indictment identifies the other co-conspirators as Michael Saquella, who received a 10-year sentence; Steven Luscko and Gregory Neu, who received five years each; Lawrence Kaplan, who received three years; Brian Brunette, who received one year; Anthony Tarantola, who received six months; and Henry "Hank" Zemla, who received three months. The other co-conspirator, Mr. Stocker, is not scheduled to be sentenced until Nov. 6, 2009. He faces a maximum sentence of five years.

If Mr. Offill is found guilty on all 10 counts, he faces a maximum prison sentence of 185 years.

The SEC's case against Offill

On June 11, 2007, the SEC filed a civil suit against Mr. Offill, Mr. Stocker and the Fishers. The suit claimed that Mr. Offill and Mr. Stocker helped the Fishers acquire 15 million free-trading shares of the company. The company then started issuing false and misleading news releases, and the stock went to a $4.10 high on Dec. 16, 2004. The Fishers allegedly sold thousands of shares. The junior Fisher has settled the case, agreeing to pay a $25,000 fine, while the senior denies any wrongdoing. There are no criminal charges against the Fishers. Mr. Offill tried twice to have the SEC case dismissed, but the judge denied his request both times. Mr. Offill has since filed an answer denying the SEC's allegations.

Offill's Vancouver connections

Mr. Offill worked at the SEC's Fort Wort office until 1999, when he went into private practice. One of his clients was David Whittemore, a Texas stock tout the SEC charged with wrong-number touting in 2005. Mr. Whittemore allegedly left messages on answering machines purporting to be a hot stock tip left at the wrong number. The recipient was told to buy shares of Jan Oliver's Yap International Inc., a Vancouver company that went from 68 cents to $1 as Mr. Whittemore left the messages.

Government records show that Mr. Offill also filed incorporation documents for Nexus Asset Holdings LLC, a company that sued a purported Vancouver-based hockey league, World Hockey Association Corp., in February, 2007.

http://www.stockwatch.com/newsit/newsit_newsit.aspx?bid=Z-C:*SEC-1583351&symbol=*SEC&news_region=C