SEC v. Howard P. Richman, No. LR-20947, District of Massachusetts (Mar. 12, 2009) — Press Release
raw: Howard P. Richman
Howard P. Richman, No. LR-20947 (Mar. 12, 2009)
Former Biopure executive Howard Richman pleaded guilty to obstructing justice by faking terminal cancer to evade an SEC enforcement action regarding concealed FDA data.
Howard Richman, former head of regulatory affairs at Biopure Corporation, pleaded guilty to lying to a federal judge and obstructing justice by falsely claiming terminal colon cancer to avoid discovery in an SEC case. The underlying civil action alleged that Biopure and its executives concealed negative FDA feedback regarding its synthetic blood product, Hemopure, leading to a prior 2008 settlement where Richman paid a $150,000 penalty and was barred from serving as an officer or director. Following his March 2009 guilty plea, Richman faces up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Howard Richman, the former head of regulatory affairs at Biopure Corporation, pleaded guilty to lying to a federal judge and obstructing justice in connection with an SEC enforcement action. From October 2006 through July 2007, Richman falsely represented to a judge that he was terminally ill with colon cancer, submitting fabricated affidavits and physician letters to avoid discovery and a scheduled trial. This civil case stemmed from allegations that Biopure and its executives, including Richman, concealed negative FDA information regarding its synthetic blood product, Hemopure, beginning in April 2003. After his deception was revealed, the SEC reached a settlement with Richman in August 2008, resulting in a permanent injunction, a ban from serving as an officer or director of any public company, and a $150,000 civil penalty. On March 11, 2009, Richman entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. As a result of this criminal conviction, he now faces up to ten years in imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Extracted insights
- $250K $250,000 $100K–$1M
- $150K $150,000 $100K–$1M
- person Howard P. Richman ×2
- organization Biopure Corporation
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- agency to lying and obstructing justice in an sec action
- Howard P. Richman pleaded guilty to lying and obstructing justice in an SEC action
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 20947 / March 12, 2009 United States of America v. Howard P. Richman, Criminal Action. No. 08-10282-MLW (D. Mass.) Former Executive of Massachusetts Public Company Pleads Guilty for Lying and Obstructing Justice in an SEC Action The Commission announced today that on March 11, 2009, Howard Richman, the former head of regulatory affairs of Biopure Corporation, plead guilty to, among other things, lying and obstructing justice in an SEC action against him. According to the September 24, 2008 Indictment, from October 26, 2006 through July 17, 2007, Richman represented to a federal judge that he was terminally ill with colon cancer and could not participate in an ongoing civil case that was brought against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Indictment alleged that in reality, Richman did not have cancer. Rather, according to the Indictment, he falsely claimed to be terminally ill in order to avoid discovery and a scheduled trial in the SEC's case against him and to obtain a favorable settlement. The Indictment alleged that, to perpetuate his lie, Richman provided the Court with false affidavits and fabricated letters from a physician. Previously, in September 2005, the Commission filed an enforcement action against Biopure, Richman and three other executives alleging that beginning in April 2003, Biopure received negative information from the FDA regarding its efforts to obtain FDA approval of its synthetic blood product Hemopure but failed to disclose the information, or falsely described it as positive developments in its filings with the Commission. After Richman's lie was revealed, the Commission reached a settlement of its case with him and the Court entered a final judgment by consent against Richman on August 6, 2008 permanently enjoining Richman from violating the antifraud and other provisions of the federal securities laws, permanently barring Richman from serving as an officer or director of any public company and ordering him to pay a $150,000 civil penalty. As a result of his plea, Richman now faces up to ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. For further information, see Litigation Release No. 20744 (September 25, 2008), Litigation Release No. 20672 (August 7, 2008) (SEC Settles Civil Injunctive Action with Former Executive of Massachusetts Public Company), Litigation Release No. 20010 (February 21, 2007) (SEC Settles Civil Injunctive Action Against Former CEO of Biopure Corporation), Litigation Release No. 19825 (September 12, 2006) (SEC Settles Civil Injunctive Action Against Biopure Corporation and Its General Counsel), Litigation Release No. 19651 (April 11, 2006) (SEC Settles with Former Biopure Executive) and Litigation Release No. 19376 (September 14, 2005) (Biopure and Others Charged by the Commission).
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 20947 / March 12, 2009 United States of America v. Howard P. Richman, Criminal Action. No. 08-10282-MLW (D. Mass.) Former Executive of Massachusetts Public Company Pleads Guilty for Lying and Obstructing Justice in an SEC Action The Commission announced today that on March 11, 2009, Howard Richman, the former head of regulatory affairs of Biopure Corporation, plead guilty to, among other things, lying and obstructing justice in an SEC action against him. According to the September 24, 2008 Indictment, from October 26, 2006 through July 17, 2007, Richman represented to a federal judge that he was terminally ill with colon cancer and could not participate in an ongoing civil case that was brought against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Indictment alleged that in reality, Richman did not have cancer. Rather, according to the Indictment, he falsely claimed to be terminally ill in order to avoid discovery and a scheduled trial in the SEC's case against him and to obtain a favorable settlement. The Indictment alleged that, to perpetuate his lie, Richman provided the Court with false affidavits and fabricated letters from a physician. Previously, in September 2005, the Commission filed an enforcement action against Biopure, Richman and three other executives alleging that beginning in April 2003, Biopure received negative information from the FDA regarding its efforts to obtain FDA approval of its synthetic blood product Hemopure but failed to disclose the information, or falsely described it as positive developments in its filings with the Commission. After Richman's lie was revealed, the Commission reached a settlement of its case with him and the Court entered a final judgment by consent against Richman on August 6, 2008 permanently enjoining Richman from violating the antifraud and other provisions of the federal securities laws, permanently barring Richman from serving as an officer or director of any public company and ordering him to pay a $150,000 civil penalty. As a result of his plea, Richman now faces up to ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. For further information, see Litigation Release No. 20744 (September 25, 2008), Litigation Release No. 20672 (August 7, 2008) (SEC Settles Civil Injunctive Action with Former Executive of Massachusetts Public Company), Litigation Release No. 20010 (February 21, 2007) (SEC Settles Civil Injunctive Action Against Former CEO of Biopure Corporation), Litigation Release No. 19825 (September 12, 2006) (SEC Settles Civil Injunctive Action Against Biopure Corporation and Its General Counsel), Litigation Release No. 19651 (April 11, 2006) (SEC Settles with Former Biopure Executive) and Litigation Release No. 19376 (September 14, 2005) (Biopure and Others Charged by the Commission).