BCSC Executive Director's Bulletin: Securities regulator issues amended notice of hearing alleging securities fraud against two individuals

VANCOUVER, Feb. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - The Executive Director of the British Columbia Securities Commission has issued an amended notice of hearing alleging that Enna M. Keller (Keller), a British Columbia resident, and Richard Lian (Lian) (a.k.a. Richard Terry Ruuska), a United States resident, breached several securities laws, including perpetrating a fraud against investors and a B.C. company.

The amended notice alleges that throughout 2010 and 2011, Lian and Keller raised approximately US$3.2 million by offering securities of Lexicon Building Systems Ltd., a manufacturing company that has been the subject of a cease trade order (CTO) by BCSC staff since October 2009. Lexicon also declared bankruptcy in 2009.

Lian and Keller offered the securities under a "Friends and Family" program (FFP). Lexicon management did not know about the FFP, but Lian and Keller led investors to believe that Lexicon management had authorized it. Keller, a former officer and director of Lexicon, told potential FFP investors the following:

• they should wire money to Lian's company, EagleMark Ventures LLC (EagleMark),in Nevada,
• the money would be used for the benefit of Lexicon and, in particular, to get the CTO revoked, and
• they were supposed to get shares and warrants in Lexicon once the CTO was revoked.

Lian only used approximately US $500,000 for the benefit of Lexicon and refunded about US $180,000 to investors in response to their demands. Lian used the rest of investors' money for personal spending, including:

• payments for a Ferrari and other exotic cars
• cosmetic surgery
• luxury retail
• over US $1 million in transfers to his personal account
• almost US $200,000 in cash withdrawals

In December 2011, the Executive Director issued a temporary order and notice of hearing against EagleMark, Lian, and Keller. One of the requirements in the temporary order was that the parties cease trading in any securities.

However, Lian and Keller continued offering shares of Lexicon to the public under the FFP. They raised at least US $400,000 from investors after the date of the temporary order. To date, none of the FFP investors have received Lexicon shares or warrants.

Keller met with BCSC staff on a voluntary basis in November 2011. After the meeting, she sent emails including statements that BCSC staff had cleared her of wrongdoing, and that the BCSC had approved the FFP. These statements were false.

Keller is not registered to trade or sell securities in British Columbia. EagleMark has never filed a prospectus in B.C.

These allegations have not been proven. Counsel for the Executive Director will apply to set dates for a hearing into the allegations before a panel of commissioners on April 1, 2014 at 9:00am.

You may view the amended notice of hearing on our website www.bcsc.bc.ca by typing EagleMark Ventures LLC, Falcon Holdings, Richard Lian, Enna M. Keller or 2014 BCSECCOM 74 in the search box. You may view the original notice of hearing by typing 2011 BCSECCOM 546. Information regarding disciplinary proceedings can be found in the Enforcement section of the BCSC website.

Please visit the Canadian Securities Administrators' Disciplined Persons List for information relating to persons disciplined by provincial securities regulators, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA).

About the British Columbia Securities Commission (www.bcsc.bc.ca)

The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act. Our mission is to protect and promote the public interest by fostering:

• A securities market that is fair and warrants public confidence
• A dynamic and competitive securities industry that provides investment opportunities and access to capital
  
  

SOURCE: British Columbia Securities Commission

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