2025-11-17 sec-litreleases complaint 220 KB 14,994 chars

SEC v. Adamant Stone Limited, No. 1:25-cv-03645, District of Colorado (Nov. 17, 2025) — Complaint

raw: SEC v. ADAMANT STONE LIMITED

SEC v. ADAMANT STONE LIMITED, No. 1:25-cv-03645 (Nov. 17, 2025)

Caption
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Adamant Stone Limited
summary

The SEC filed a complaint against Adamant Stone Limited for making material misrepresentations in its Form ADV regarding its office, CEO, and assets under management.

paragraph

Adamant Stone Limited allegedly misrepresented in its Form ADV that it managed $10 million in U.S. assets and operated from a specific Denver office. The SEC claims the firm violated Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by providing unsubstantiated information and failing to produce records. The Commission is seeking a permanent injunction, a ban on filing as an exempt reporting adviser, and civil monetary penalties.

narrative

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against Adamant Stone Limited. The SEC alleges that the firm made material misrepresentations in its Form ADV filing regarding its office location, its CEO Peng Denggao, and its purported management of $10 million in U.S. assets. Investigations revealed that the listed Denver office occupant had no knowledge of the firm and that the firm failed to provide requested records to substantiate its claims. The defendant is charged with violating Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. To resolve the matter, the SEC seeks a permanent injunction against further violations, a prohibition on its officers filing as an exempt reporting adviser, and the imposition of civil monetary penalties.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
investment-adviser-fraud (100%)
Court
District of Colorado
Case No.
1:25-cv-03645
Entity
ADAMANT STONE LIMITED
Classified investment-adviser-fraud(confidence 100%). EDGAR detection: forms ADV/ADV-E/ADV-W/Form D· recall 33% / precision 13%. detection rule →
Statutes
15 U.S.C. § 80b-209(e)15 U.S.C. § 80b-1415 U.S.C. § 80b-4(a)15 U.S.C. § 80b-715 U.S.C. § 80b-9(e)Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers ActSections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers Act
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionAdamant Stone Limited
Keywords
adamant stoneadamantstonecommissionprivate fundformadvisersadvunderprivatecoloradofundassets underunder managementinformation about

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 3
  • $150.00M $150 million $100M–$1B
  • $10.00M $10 million $10M–$100M
  • $100 $100 <$10K
Entities 10
  • company adamant stone limited
  • organization Adamant Stone Limited
  • person chief executive officer
  • person final judgment
  • person material misrepresentations
  • person Peng Denggao
  • company private fund
  • organization Private Fund
  • agency Securities and Exchange Commission
  • organization Securities and Exchange Commission
Triples 10
  • Securities And Exchange Commission alleges material misrepresentations
  • Adamant Stone Limited made material misrepresentations
  • Adamant Stone Limited represents office location at 1312 17th Street
  • Peng Denggao serves Chief Executive Officer
  • Adamant Stone Limited manages $10 million in assets
  • Adamant Stone Limited advises private fund
  • Securities And Exchange Commission seeks final judgment
  • Adamant Stone Limited violated Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers Act
  • Securities And Exchange Commission brings action under enforcement authority
  • Adamant Stone Limited failed response to request for records
Text layers
Extracted body text (14,994c)

 
 
1 
 
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
DISTRICT OF COLORADO 
 
Case No.  
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, 
 
Plaintiff, 
 
v. 
 
ADAMANT STONE LIMITED 
 
Defendant. 
 
 
COMPLAINT AND JURY TRIAL DEMAND 
 
 
Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”),  for its Complaint against 
Adamant Stone Limited (“Adamant Stone”),  alleges as follows: 
SUMMARY OF ALLEGATIONS 
 
1. This case concerns material misrepresentations and statements that could not be 
substantiated made by Adamant Stone, a purported investment adviser, in a form filed with the 
Commission and made available to the public on September 13, 2024, about Adamant Stone’s 
organization, office location, assets under management, and clients. 
2. Specifically, Adamant Stone represented in its Form ADV (a form used by 
investment advisers to register with both the Commission and state securities regulators) that it 
operates out of office space at 1312 17th Street, Suite 890, Denver, Colorado 80202 (“1312 17th 
Street”); that Peng Denggao serves as its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”); that it manages $10 
million in assets in the United States; that it advises a private fund (with the same name as the 
defendant: Adamant Stone Limited); and that a separate registered investment adviser (“RIA”) 
reports information about this private fund to the Commission on its own Form ADV. 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 1 of 9

 
 
2 
 
3. Contrary to Adamant Stone’s representations, the current business occupant of 1312 
17th Street has no knowledge of Adamant Stone or its purported CEO, and the separate RIA has not 
reported information about the purported private fund. Moreover, the Commission has not found 
any reporting of information about the private fund on other filings made with the Commission. 
4. In addition, Adamant Stone failed to respond to a request by Commission attorneys 
to provide records to substantiate the information on the Form ADV, including the amount of 
private fund assets under management in the United States. 
5. By engaging in the conduct described in this Complaint, Adamant Stone violated, 
and unless enjoined will continue to violate, Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers 
Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-4(a), 80b-7]. 
NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND RELIEF SOUGHT 
 
6. The Commission brings this action under enforcement authority conferred by 
Sections 209(d) and 209(e) of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-9(d) and 80b-9(e)]. 
7. The Commission seeks a final judgment: (a) permanently enjoining Adamant Stone 
from violating the federal securities laws this Complaint alleges it has violated; (b) permanently 
enjoining Adamant Stone, its owners, and its executive officers, from filing a Form ADV as an 
exempt reporting adviser; (c) ordering Adamant Stone to pay a civil money penalty under Section 
209(e) of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-209(e)]; and (d) ordering any other and further relief 
the Court may deem just and proper. 
JURISDICTION AND VENUE 
 
8. This Court has jurisdiction over this action under Section 214 of the Advisers Act 
[15 U.S.C. § 80b-14]. 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 2 of 9

 
 
3 
 
9. Defendant, directly or indirectly, made use of the means or instrumentalities of 
interstate commerce or of the mails in connection with the transactions, acts, practices, and course 
of business alleged. 
10. Venue is proper in the District of Colorado under Section 214 of the Advisers Act 
[15 U.S.C. § 80b-14]. Certain of the acts, practices, transactions, and courses of business alleged in 
this Complaint occurred within this District. Specifically, Adamant Stone represented on corporate 
filings with both the Commission and the Colorado Secretary of State that its primary business 
address is 1312 17th Street, which is located in the District. 
DEFENDANT 
11. Adamant Stone Inc. claims that it is a Colorado corporation. On August 20, 2024, 
Adamant Stone filed a certificate of incorporation with the Colorado Secretary of State, in which it 
used the name “Spencer Ahmed” as the filer and incorporator. On the certificate of incorporation, 
Adamant Stone listed 1312 17th Street as both its principal office address and Ahmed’s address. 
FACTS 
 
I. Investment Adviser Registration and Commission Form ADV 
12. The Commission regulates investment advisers, primarily under the Advisers Act 
and the rules adopted under that statute. One of the central elements of the regulatory program is 
the requirement that an “investment adviser” under the Advisers Act register with the Commission, 
unless exempt or prohibited from registration. Generally, only larger advisers that have $100 
million or more of regulatory assets under management, or that provide advice to investment 
company clients, are permitted to register with the Commission. Smaller advisers register under 
state law with state securities authorities. 
13. Exempt reporting advisers (“ERAs”) are a category of investment advisers who 
would otherwise be required to register with the Commission under the Advisers Act but for the 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 3 of 9

 
 
4 
 
specific exemptions outlined in Section 203 of the Advisers Act. ERAs include an adviser to private 
funds with less than $150 million in assets under management in the United States. The registration 
exemption for such private fund advisers is Section 203(m) of the Advisers Act and Rule 203(m)-1 
thereunder. 
14. While ERAs are exempt from the registration requirements, any books or records 
they do maintain are subject to examination by the Commission under Section 204(a) of the 
Advisers Act. 
15. Form ADV is the form used by investment advisers to register with the Commission 
and with state securities authorities. It consists of two parts, both of which are required to be filed 
with the Commission, and both of which are publicly available once filed: Form ADV Part 1 and 
Form ADV Part 2. 
16. ERAs, while exempt from registration, are still required to file certain items in Form 
ADV Part 1. ERAs do not complete Part 2. 
17. Part 1 asks for information about, among other things, an adviser’s business, amount 
of assets under management, ownership, and clients. 
18. Form ADV is filed electronically with the Commission through the Investment 
Adviser Registration Depository (“IARD”), a secure Internet based filing system that collects and 
maintains the registration, reporting, and disclosure information for investment advisers. The 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), under contract with the Commission, is the 
developer and operator of the IARD system. Once filed, the Form ADV is available to the public 
through the Commission’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database, located at 
https://adviserinfo.sec.gov. 
 
 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 4 of 9

 
 
5 
 
II. Adamant Stone Made Material Misstatements and Statements in its Form ADV Filed 
with the Commission That Could Not Be Substantiated. 
 
19. On September 13, 2024, Adamant Stone filed its Form ADV with the Commission 
as an ERA. In that filing, Adamant Stone claims that it qualifies for a registration exemption 
because it acts solely as an adviser to private funds and has assets under management in the United 
States of less than $150 million. 
20. In the Form ADV, Adamant Stone lists 1312 17th Street as its principal office and 
place of business, and states that Peng Denggao serves as its CEO. Adamant Stone also provides a 
telephone number with an (317) area code as the main number for its Colorado office, even though 
(317) is the area code for Indianapolis and its surrounding area. 
21. In the Form ADV, Adamant Stone provides two Central Index Key (“CIK”) 
numbers, which are numbers that the Commission assigns to a public reporting company and that 
can be searched on the Commission’s computer systems to identify corporations and individuals 
required to file certain disclosure information. 
22. The Form ADV represents that the amount of Adamant Stone’s private fund assets 
under management in the United States is $10 million. 
23. In addition, the Form ADV represents that Adamant Stone advises a private fund, 
also named “Adamant Stone Limited,” and lists a private fund identification number. The private 
fund identification number is a unique identification number assigned to a private fund. 
24. Adamant Stone further states in its Form ADV that a separate RIA “provides 
information” about Adamant Stone’s private fund on its own Form ADV filing.  
25. Contrary to Adamant Stone’s representations in the Form ADV: 
a. the individual who owns the business at 1312 17th Street stated that he has no 
records of Adamant Stone, Peng Denggao, or Spencer Ahmed; 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 5 of 9

 
 
6 
 
b. the third-party RIA has not reported the Adamant Stone private fund on its 
Form ADV filings. Further, the Commission has not found reporting of the private fund or the 
associated identification number on other filings; and 
c. a search for either Adamant Stone or its purported CIK numbers on the 
Commission’s public reporting company database yields no information. 
III. Adamant Stone Failed to Produce Records for Examination. 
26. Section 204(a) of the Advisers Act provides that all records of investment advisers 
are “subject at any time, or from time to time, to such reasonable periodic, special, or other 
examinations by representatives of the Commission as the Commission deems necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.” 15 U.S.C. § 80b-4(a). 
27. Although ERAs are exempt from the registration requirements, any books and 
records they do maintain are subject to examination under Section 204(a). 
28. Since November 13, 2024, Commission attorneys have attempted to obtain books 
and records from Adamant Stone that it is required to produce under the Advisers Act.  
29. On November 13 and November 21, 2024, a Commission attorney emailed Adamant 
Stone a letter requesting production of books and records regarding the information on the Form 
ADV, including its organizational information and the private fund assets under management in the 
United States. Although the Form ADV itself does not contain an email address for Adamant Stone, 
the Commission attorney used email addresses that Adamant Stone provided to (i) FINRA in 
connection with the Form ADV filing process and (ii) the Colorado Department of State in 
connection with filing its incorporation documents. 
30. On November 21, 2024, Commission attorneys called telephone numbers that 
Adamant Stone provided on the Form ADV and to FINRA in connection with the Form ADV filing 
process. One number reached a recording stating that the number is not accepting calls, another 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 6 of 9

 
 
7 
 
number reached a recording stating that the call cannot be completed as dialed, and a third number 
went to a busy signal unanswered. 
31. On April 15, 2025, a Commission attorney again emailed Adamant Stone at the same 
addresses that Adamant Stone provided to FINRA and the Colorado Department of State. To date, 
Adamant Stone has not responded to any emails. 
32. In sum, the Form ADV materially misrepresented information about Adamant 
Stone’s primary business location and reporting of private fund clients; and it provided information 
about its CEO and the amount of private fund assets under management in the United States that (1) 
could not be substantiated, (2) Adamant Stone failed to provide information about when requested, 
and (3) is likely false. Further, Adamant Stone failed to respond to Commission requests to produce 
books and records subject to examination.  
33. Given the above facts, a reasonable investor would have considered it important in 
making their decision to invest with Adamant Stone to know complete and accurate information 
about its organizational structure and management personnel, office location, amount of assets 
under management in the United States, and private fund clients. 
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
Violation of Advisers Act Section 204(a) 
 
34. The Commission realleges and incorporates by reference here the allegations in 
paragraphs 1 through 33. 
35. Adamant Stone failed to make its books and records available to Commission 
attorneys for examination. 
36. By reason of the foregoing, Adamant Stone has violated and, unless enjoined, will 
again violate Section 204(a) of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-4(a)]. 
 
 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 7 of 9

 
 
8 
 
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
Violation of Advisers Act Section 207 
 
37. The Commission realleges and incorporates by reference here the allegations in 
paragraphs 1 through 33. 
38. Adamant Stone, by use of the mails, and the means and instruments of interstate 
commerce, directly and indirectly, willfully made untrue statements of material fact in, and omitted 
to state material facts required to be stated in, reports filed with the Commission. 
39. By reason of the foregoing, Adamant Stone, directly or indirectly, has violated and, 
unless enjoined, will again violate Section 207 of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-7]. 
PRAYER FOR RELIEF 
 
WHEREFORE, the Commission requests that this Court enter a Final Judgment: 
I. 
 Permanently restraining and enjoining Adamant Stone and its agents, servants, employees 
and attorneys and all persons in active concert or participation with any of them from violating, 
directly or indirectly, Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-4(a); 80b-7]. 
II. 
Permanently restraining and enjoining Adamant Stone, its owners, and its executive officers, 
from filing a Form ADV as an ERA. 
III. 
Ordering Adamant Stone to pay a civil monetary penalty under Section 209(e) of the 
Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-9(e)]. 
IV. 
Granting any other and further relief this Court may deem just and proper. 
 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 8 of 9

 
 
9 
 
JURY DEMAND 
Under Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiff demands that this case be 
tried to a jury.  
 
 
Dated: November 13, 2025   Respectfully submitted, 
/s/  David H. London    
David H. London 
Alexandra Lavin 
Xinyue Angela Lin 
Sarah McAteer 
Dahlia Rin 
Attorneys for Plaintiff 
U.S.
 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Boston Regional Office 
33 Arch Street, 24th Floor 
Boston, MA 02110 
Phone: 617-573-8997 (London) 
Email: [email protected] 
 
 
 
 
Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 9 of 9
OCR text (15,493c · tika · 95% conf)
1  

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
DISTRICT OF COLORADO 

 
Case No.  

 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, 

 
Plaintiff, 

 
v. 

 
ADAMANT STONE LIMITED 

 
Defendant. 

 
 

COMPLAINT AND JURY TRIAL DEMAND 
 
 

Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for its Complaint against 

Adamant Stone Limited (“Adamant Stone”), alleges as follows: 

SUMMARY OF ALLEGATIONS 
 

1. This case concerns material misrepresentations and statements that could not be 

substantiated made by Adamant Stone, a purported investment adviser, in a form filed with the 

Commission and made available to the public on September 13, 2024, about Adamant Stone’s 

organization, office location, assets under management, and clients. 

2. Specifically, Adamant Stone represented in its Form ADV (a form used by 

investment advisers to register with both the Commission and state securities regulators) that it 

operates out of office space at 1312 17th Street, Suite 890, Denver, Colorado 80202 (“1312 17th 

Street”); that Peng Denggao serves as its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”); that it manages $10 

million in assets in the United States; that it advises a private fund (with the same name as the 

defendant: Adamant Stone Limited); and that a separate registered investment adviser (“RIA”) 

reports information about this private fund to the Commission on its own Form ADV. 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 1 of 9



 
 

2  

3. Contrary to Adamant Stone’s representations, the current business occupant of 1312 

17th Street has no knowledge of Adamant Stone or its purported CEO, and the separate RIA has not 

reported information about the purported private fund. Moreover, the Commission has not found 

any reporting of information about the private fund on other filings made with the Commission. 

4. In addition, Adamant Stone failed to respond to a request by Commission attorneys 

to provide records to substantiate the information on the Form ADV, including the amount of 

private fund assets under management in the United States. 

5. By engaging in the conduct described in this Complaint, Adamant Stone violated, 

and unless enjoined will continue to violate, Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Investment Advisers 

Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-4(a), 80b-7]. 

NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND RELIEF SOUGHT 
 

6. The Commission brings this action under enforcement authority conferred by 

Sections 209(d) and 209(e) of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-9(d) and 80b-9(e)]. 

7. The Commission seeks a final judgment: (a) permanently enjoining Adamant Stone 

from violating the federal securities laws this Complaint alleges it has violated; (b) permanently 

enjoining Adamant Stone, its owners, and its executive officers, from filing a Form ADV as an 

exempt reporting adviser; (c) ordering Adamant Stone to pay a civil money penalty under Section 

209(e) of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-209(e)]; and (d) ordering any other and further relief 

the Court may deem just and proper. 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE 
 

8. This Court has jurisdiction over this action under Section 214 of the Advisers Act 

[15 U.S.C. § 80b-14]. 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 2 of 9



 
 

3  

9. Defendant, directly or indirectly, made use of the means or instrumentalities of 

interstate commerce or of the mails in connection with the transactions, acts, practices, and course 

of business alleged. 

10. Venue is proper in the District of Colorado under Section 214 of the Advisers Act 

[15 U.S.C. § 80b-14]. Certain of the acts, practices, transactions, and courses of business alleged in 

this Complaint occurred within this District. Specifically, Adamant Stone represented on corporate 

filings with both the Commission and the Colorado Secretary of State that its primary business 

address is 1312 17th Street, which is located in the District. 

DEFENDANT 

11. Adamant Stone Inc. claims that it is a Colorado corporation. On August 20, 2024, 

Adamant Stone filed a certificate of incorporation with the Colorado Secretary of State, in which it 

used the name “Spencer Ahmed” as the filer and incorporator. On the certificate of incorporation, 

Adamant Stone listed 1312 17th Street as both its principal office address and Ahmed’s address. 

FACTS 
 

I. Investment Adviser Registration and Commission Form ADV 

12. The Commission regulates investment advisers, primarily under the Advisers Act 

and the rules adopted under that statute. One of the central elements of the regulatory program is 

the requirement that an “investment adviser” under the Advisers Act register with the Commission, 

unless exempt or prohibited from registration. Generally, only larger advisers that have $100 

million or more of regulatory assets under management, or that provide advice to investment 

company clients, are permitted to register with the Commission. Smaller advisers register under 

state law with state securities authorities. 

13. Exempt reporting advisers (“ERAs”) are a category of investment advisers who 

would otherwise be required to register with the Commission under the Advisers Act but for the 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 3 of 9



 
 

4  

specific exemptions outlined in Section 203 of the Advisers Act. ERAs include an adviser to private 

funds with less than $150 million in assets under management in the United States. The registration 

exemption for such private fund advisers is Section 203(m) of the Advisers Act and Rule 203(m)-1 

thereunder. 

14. While ERAs are exempt from the registration requirements, any books or records 

they do maintain are subject to examination by the Commission under Section 204(a) of the 

Advisers Act. 

15. Form ADV is the form used by investment advisers to register with the Commission 

and with state securities authorities. It consists of two parts, both of which are required to be filed 

with the Commission, and both of which are publicly available once filed: Form ADV Part 1 and 

Form ADV Part 2. 

16. ERAs, while exempt from registration, are still required to file certain items in Form 

ADV Part 1. ERAs do not complete Part 2. 

17. Part 1 asks for information about, among other things, an adviser’s business, amount 

of assets under management, ownership, and clients. 

18. Form ADV is filed electronically with the Commission through the Investment 

Adviser Registration Depository (“IARD”), a secure Internet based filing system that collects and 

maintains the registration, reporting, and disclosure information for investment advisers. The 

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), under contract with the Commission, is the 

developer and operator of the IARD system. Once filed, the Form ADV is available to the public 

through the Commission’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database, located at 

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov. 

 

 

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5  

II. Adamant Stone Made Material Misstatements and Statements in its Form ADV Filed 
with the Commission That Could Not Be Substantiated. 

 
19. On September 13, 2024, Adamant Stone filed its Form ADV with the Commission 

as an ERA. In that filing, Adamant Stone claims that it qualifies for a registration exemption 

because it acts solely as an adviser to private funds and has assets under management in the United 

States of less than $150 million. 

20. In the Form ADV, Adamant Stone lists 1312 17th Street as its principal office and 

place of business, and states that Peng Denggao serves as its CEO. Adamant Stone also provides a 

telephone number with an (317) area code as the main number for its Colorado office, even though 

(317) is the area code for Indianapolis and its surrounding area. 

21. In the Form ADV, Adamant Stone provides two Central Index Key (“CIK”) 

numbers, which are numbers that the Commission assigns to a public reporting company and that 

can be searched on the Commission’s computer systems to identify corporations and individuals 

required to file certain disclosure information. 

22. The Form ADV represents that the amount of Adamant Stone’s private fund assets 

under management in the United States is $10 million. 

23. In addition, the Form ADV represents that Adamant Stone advises a private fund, 

also named “Adamant Stone Limited,” and lists a private fund identification number. The private 

fund identification number is a unique identification number assigned to a private fund. 

24. Adamant Stone further states in its Form ADV that a separate RIA “provides 

information” about Adamant Stone’s private fund on its own Form ADV filing.  

25. Contrary to Adamant Stone’s representations in the Form ADV: 

a. the individual who owns the business at 1312 17th Street stated that he has no 

records of Adamant Stone, Peng Denggao, or Spencer Ahmed; 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 5 of 9



 
 

6  

b. the third-party RIA has not reported the Adamant Stone private fund on its 

Form ADV filings. Further, the Commission has not found reporting of the private fund or the 

associated identification number on other filings; and 

c. a search for either Adamant Stone or its purported CIK numbers on the 

Commission’s public reporting company database yields no information. 

III. Adamant Stone Failed to Produce Records for Examination. 

26. Section 204(a) of the Advisers Act provides that all records of investment advisers 

are “subject at any time, or from time to time, to such reasonable periodic, special, or other 

examinations by representatives of the Commission as the Commission deems necessary or 

appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.” 15 U.S.C. § 80b-4(a). 

27. Although ERAs are exempt from the registration requirements, any books and 

records they do maintain are subject to examination under Section 204(a). 

28. Since November 13, 2024, Commission attorneys have attempted to obtain books 

and records from Adamant Stone that it is required to produce under the Advisers Act.  

29. On November 13 and November 21, 2024, a Commission attorney emailed Adamant 

Stone a letter requesting production of books and records regarding the information on the Form 

ADV, including its organizational information and the private fund assets under management in the 

United States. Although the Form ADV itself does not contain an email address for Adamant Stone, 

the Commission attorney used email addresses that Adamant Stone provided to (i) FINRA in 

connection with the Form ADV filing process and (ii) the Colorado Department of State in 

connection with filing its incorporation documents. 

30. On November 21, 2024, Commission attorneys called telephone numbers that 

Adamant Stone provided on the Form ADV and to FINRA in connection with the Form ADV filing 

process. One number reached a recording stating that the number is not accepting calls, another 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 6 of 9



 
 

7  

number reached a recording stating that the call cannot be completed as dialed, and a third number 

went to a busy signal unanswered. 

31. On April 15, 2025, a Commission attorney again emailed Adamant Stone at the same 

addresses that Adamant Stone provided to FINRA and the Colorado Department of State. To date, 

Adamant Stone has not responded to any emails. 

32. In sum, the Form ADV materially misrepresented information about Adamant 

Stone’s primary business location and reporting of private fund clients; and it provided information 

about its CEO and the amount of private fund assets under management in the United States that (1) 

could not be substantiated, (2) Adamant Stone failed to provide information about when requested, 

and (3) is likely false. Further, Adamant Stone failed to respond to Commission requests to produce 

books and records subject to examination.  

33. Given the above facts, a reasonable investor would have considered it important in 

making their decision to invest with Adamant Stone to know complete and accurate information 

about its organizational structure and management personnel, office location, amount of assets 

under management in the United States, and private fund clients. 

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
Violation of Advisers Act Section 204(a) 

 
34. The Commission realleges and incorporates by reference here the allegations in 

paragraphs 1 through 33. 

35. Adamant Stone failed to make its books and records available to Commission 

attorneys for examination. 

36. By reason of the foregoing, Adamant Stone has violated and, unless enjoined, will 

again violate Section 204(a) of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-4(a)]. 

 

 

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8  

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
Violation of Advisers Act Section 207 

 
37. The Commission realleges and incorporates by reference here the allegations in 

paragraphs 1 through 33. 

38. Adamant Stone, by use of the mails, and the means and instruments of interstate 

commerce, directly and indirectly, willfully made untrue statements of material fact in, and omitted 

to state material facts required to be stated in, reports filed with the Commission. 

39. By reason of the foregoing, Adamant Stone, directly or indirectly, has violated and, 

unless enjoined, will again violate Section 207 of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-7]. 

PRAYER FOR RELIEF 
 

WHEREFORE, the Commission requests that this Court enter a Final Judgment: 

I. 

 Permanently restraining and enjoining Adamant Stone and its agents, servants, employees 

and attorneys and all persons in active concert or participation with any of them from violating, 

directly or indirectly, Sections 204(a) and 207 of the Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 80b-4(a); 80b-7]. 

II. 

Permanently restraining and enjoining Adamant Stone, its owners, and its executive officers, 

from filing a Form ADV as an ERA. 

III. 

Ordering Adamant Stone to pay a civil monetary penalty under Section 209(e) of the 

Advisers Act [15 U.S.C. § 80b-9(e)]. 

IV. 

Granting any other and further relief this Court may deem just and proper. 

 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 8 of 9



 
 

9  

JURY DEMAND 

Under Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiff demands that this case be 

tried to a jury.  

 

 

Dated: November 13, 2025   Respectfully submitted, 

/s/ David H. London    
David H. London 
Alexandra Lavin 
Xinyue Angela Lin 
Sarah McAteer 
Dahlia Rin 
Attorneys for Plaintiff 
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Boston Regional Office 
33 Arch Street, 24th Floor 
Boston, MA 02110 
Phone: 617-573-8997 (London) 
Email: [email protected] 

 
 
 

 

Case No. 1:25-cv-03645     Document 1     filed 11/13/25     USDC Colorado     pg 9 of 9

mailto:[email protected]

	UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
	DISTRICT OF COLORADO
	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
	ADAMANT STONE LIMITED
	COMPLAINT AND JURY TRIAL DEMAND
	SUMMARY OF ALLEGATIONS
	NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND RELIEF SOUGHT
	JURISDICTION AND VENUE
	FACTS
	PRAYER FOR RELIEF