SEC Charges Former Broker and Firm with Defrauding Investor of Millions

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged former broker Surage Kamal Roshan Perera and his firm, Janues Capital Incorporated, with defrauding at least one investor out of millions by lying about investment opportunities and strategies, concealing trading losses, and using funds received from others to give the victim promised returns in a Ponzi-like fashion. In addition to obtaining emergency relief including an asset freeze, the SEC has brought charges against Perera and Janues for violating antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. According to the SEC’s complaint, Perera used highly speculative and leveraged trading and misappropriated $3.5 million of the investor’s funds. He also provided phony confirmations and account statements shielding these activities from investors, while using Ponzi-like payments to increase returns. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has also announced criminal charges against Perera. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains alongside interest and penalties.