"CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER ENTERED AGAINST STRATA COAL COMPANY, FORMERLY KNOWN AS WESPAC TECHNOLOGIES CORP., AND ITS PRESIDENT, TERRENCE TECCO
On December 13, the Commission entered a cease-and-desist order against Strata Coal Company, formerly known as WesPac Technologies Corp., and its president, Terrence A. Tecco, for issuing a series of false press releases. Strata Coal and Tecco consented to the entry of the Order without admitting or denying its allegations. The Order contains findings that Strata Coal and Tecco violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and orders them to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations, and any future violations of these provisions.
The Commission's Order alleges that between May 2001 and March 2002 Strata Coal and Tecco issued five false press releases relating to Strata Coal's acquisition and development of oil-and-gas projects and the acquisition of a bio-waste processing plant. Strata Coal and Tecco failed to disclose in the press releases that the projects were contingent upon financing and that Strata Coal had no means of obtaining any financing. At the time of the press releases, Strata Coal was a development stage company with no meaningful business operations and operated out of Tecco's home. Strata Coal and Tecco knew, or were reckless in not knowing, that the press releases were false and misleading at the time they were made"