U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 23857/ June 12, 2017
Securities and Exchange Commission v. AmeraTex Energy, Inc., et al., No. 17-MC-00018 (N.D. Tex. filed June 9, 2017)
SEC Seeks Order Compelling Production of Documents
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a subpoena enforcement action against three respondents – AmeraTex Energy, Inc.; Lewis Oil, Inc.; and Thomas A. Lewis – seeking an order compelling them to produce documents to the SEC.
According to the SEC’s application and supporting papers, filed on June 9, 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas:
- The SEC is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws arising from possible unregistered offerings and sales of securities in oil and gas limited partnerships and joint ventures, misleading statements to investors regarding the use of investor funds and the performance and risks associated with those investments, and misappropriation of investor funds.
- The staff has developed evidence indicating that since at least 2012, respondents and their affiliated entities have received more than $10 million dollars from over 180 investors.
- In October 2016, SEC staff in the Fort Worth Regional Office served respondents with subpoenas seeking, among other things, production of documents regarding offering materials provided to investors, the use of investor funds, and communications with investors.
- Despite being provided nine separate extensions, respondents have failed to timely produce several categories of documents critical to the staff’s investigation.
The SEC’s application seeks an order from the federal district court compelling respondents to comply with the SEC’s subpoenas. The SEC is continuing its fact-finding investigation and, to date, has not concluded that any individual or entity has violated the federal securities laws.
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2017/lr23857.htm