It boggles the mind when reading about the shenanigans of a very few disreputable Representatives. The Securities and Advisory businesses are easily amongst the most heavily regulated and scrutinized industries in a country that seems overly fond of regulation.
In a complaint dated April of 2017, the SEC alleged that Justin Meadlin of Hyaline Capital Management, LLC mislead the public and omitted material facts regarding Assets Under Management (AUM), fraudulently marketed his “Quantitative” Trading Strategy as well as the performance of his fund.
As early as September of 2012, Meadlin disseminated emails to prospective investors and clients that inflated his AUM. Hayaline Capital Quantitative Fund “HCQF” had never managed more than $5.5 million, yet he claimed to be managing between $17 – $25 million in AUM. Meadlin claimed HCQF had consistently positive historical performance returns dating back to 2009. Returns purportedly from a “proprietary” algorithm that the Defendants had acquired – none of this was true. In fact, HCQF did not exist (never had) and neither Meadlin nor Hayaline had ever acquired or created any “proprietary” algorithm. The touted returns were those generated by an unaffiliated trader who had generated them almost entirely from “paper” or “demo” trading (trading without any actual capital under management).
Through the courts, the SEC sought to permanently restrain and enjoin the Defendants from engaging in this conduct and the acts, practices and courses alleged of their business. The Commission also sought a final judgment ordering the Defendants to disgorge their ill-gotten gains and pay prejudgment interest and civil money penalties.
While a good Compliance program cannot make the dishonest honest, it can help find those playing loose with the rules. We love compliance so you don’t have to.
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