Unregistered Broker Faces SEC Charges for Illegally Selling Securities

Posted on September 11th, 2023 at 11:31 AM
Unregistered Broker Faces SEC Charges for Illegally Selling Securities

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Blake Cathey with unlawfully selling securities of Florida-based Accanito Equity LLC, Accanito Equity II LLC, Accanito Equity III LLC, and Accanito Equity IV LLC to retail investors.

The SEC's complaint states that Blake Cathey sold over $4.6 million of Accanito LLC's securities to 15 retail investors across five states between June 2019 and September 2022. Despite not being registered as a broker-dealer or authorized to sell securities, Cathey earned around $760,729 in transaction-based sales commissions from Accanito. According to The DI Wire, the SEC had previously filed an enforcement action against Brent Seaman, the Accanito LLCs, and affiliated entities on July 27, 2023, in connection with the alleged scheme.

The complaint filed by the SEC accuses Cathey of violating securities registration provisions. Cathey has agreed to a judgment that includes injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties without admitting or denying the allegations. Cathey has also consented to associational and penny stock bars as part of a settled follow-on administrative proceeding. Those bars will be in effect for five years, after which he retains the right to reapply.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 4, 2026
Investor Redemptions Rise in Nontraded BDCs Amid Credit Concerns

Financial advisors and their clients have increased redemptions from nontraded business development companies (BDCs) following a series of high-profile corporate bankruptcies, according to InvestmentNews. The surge highlights growing investor concern about liquidity and credit exposure within these high-yield but often risky investment ...

February 3, 2026
FINRA Accuses Spartan Capital of Widespread Churning That Allegedly Harmed Customers

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has brought a disciplinary complaint against Spartan Capital Securities and several senior leaders of the New York City–based broker-dealer, alleging that the firm facilitated excessive trading that generated millions of dollars in revenue while causing substantial losses to customers.

February 2, 2026
California Investors Allege Unsuitable DST Recommendations in FINRA Arbitration

Two investors from the San Francisco Bay Area have filed a FINRA arbitration claim against brokerage firm Realized Financial and its financial advisors.