In re Bujan & Associates
Bujan & Associates, Ltd. and its CPA partner Frank Bujan violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an unregistered audit report for eNucleus, Inc.'s 2003 financial statements, leading to a cease-and-desist order, censure, and mandatory PCAOB registration, with the firm voluntarily repaying the $8,500 audit fee.
Bujan & Associates, Ltd. and Frank Bujan, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for eNucleus, Inc.'s 2003 financial statements in April 2004 while unregistered with the PCAOB, despite the law’s October 2003 effective date. The SEC instituted cease-and-desist and administrative proceedings, resulting in a settlement where both respondents were censured and barred from practicing before the Commission unless properly registered with the PCAOB. The firm voluntarily reimbursed the $8,500 audit fee to eNucleus, eliminating the need for disgorgement, and agreed to maintain active PCAOB registration and submit proof to the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant.
Bujan & Associates, Ltd. and its engagement partner, Frank Bujan, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for eNucleus, Inc.'s 2003 financial statements on April 12, 2004, while unregistered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement that became effective in October 2003. The audit, for which the firm received $8,500, was included in eNucleus’s Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC, and Bujan, as the responsible partner, directly participated in its preparation and issuance. The PCAOB later disapproved the firm’s registration application in July 2005, citing this violation as a key reason. In settlement, Bujan & Associates and Frank Bujan consented to a cease-and-desist order and administrative censure without admitting or denying the allegations, agreeing to cease practicing before the SEC unless registered with the PCAOB. Both parties are required to maintain active PCAOB registration and submit proof of compliance to the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant. The firm voluntarily reimbursed eNucleus the full $8,500 audit fee, thereby avoiding any disgorgement order. The settlement resolved all charges and imposed no monetary penalties beyond the reimbursement, emphasizing remediation and compliance over punishment.
Extracted insights
- $578K $578,000 $100K–$1M
- $9K $8,500 <$10K
- $9K $8,500 <$10K
- company bujan & associates, ltd
- agency the securities and exchange commission
- The Securities and Exchange Commission deems it appropriate that cease-and-desist proceedings be instituted against Bujan & Associates, Ltd and Frank Bujan, CPA
- Respondents have submitted an Offer of Settlement which the Commission has determined to accept
- The Commission has determined to accept Respondents' Offer of Settlement
- Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting Public Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings
- Bujan & Associates, Ltd is an Illinois corporation and a public accounting firm headquartered in Homer Glen, Illinois
- The Firm audited eNucleus, Inc.’s financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
- eNucleus dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on December 15, 2004
- Frank Bujan, CPA is a certified public accountant licensed in the state of Illinois since 1992
- Bujan was the engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of eNucleus’s financial statements
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56404 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2684 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 12765
In the Matter of
Bujan & Associates, Ltd and
Frank Bujan, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND-
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A CEASE-
AND-DESIST ORDER
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that cease-
and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Bujan & Associates, Ltd and Frank
Bujan, CPA (collectively “Respondents”) pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), and that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted
against Bujan & Associates, Ltd pursuant to Section 4C
1
of the Exchange Act and Rule
102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.
2
1
Section 4C provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the
privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found . . .
to have willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the
securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.
2
Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found . . . to have willfully
violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of any provision of the Federal securities laws
or the rules and regulations thereunder.
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondents have submitted an Offer
of Settlement (“Offer”), which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose
of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to
which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings herein, except as
to the Commission’s jurisdiction over them and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are
admitted, Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting Public Administrative and
Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 4C and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Making Findings, and Imposing
Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondents’ Offer, the Commission finds
3
that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Bujan & Associates, Ltd (the “Firm”) is an Illinois corporation and a public
accounting firm headquartered in Homer Glen, Illinois. The Firm audited eNucleus, Inc.’s
(“eNucleus”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
eNucleus dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on December 15, 2004.
2. Frank Bujan, CPA, (“Bujan”) of Homer Glen, Illinois is a certified public
accountant licensed in the state of Illinois since 1992. Bujan was the engagement partner in
connection with the Firm’s audit of eNucleus’s financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003.
B. FACTS
1. eNucleus is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Rolling Meadows,
Illinois. eNucleus’s common stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act and trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol ENUI. For its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003, eNucleus reported revenues of $578,000 and total assets of $1.8
million.
2. eNucleus has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited eNucleus’s 2003 financial statements included in eNucleus’s
annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April 14, 2004.
As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated April 12, 2004 (the
“eNucleus audit report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB. eNucleus paid
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents’ Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any
other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
3
the Firm $8,500 for the audit work.
4
4. At the time the Firm issued the eNucleus audit report, it was not registered with the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section 102(a) of the
Act.
5. Bujan was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of eNucleus’s 2003 financial
statements. Bujan participated in the preparation and issuance of the eNucleus audit report.
6. By order dated July 28, 2005, the Board disapproved an application for registration
submitted by the Firm based in part on the Firm’s violation of Section 102(a) of the Act in issuing
the eNucleus audit report.
5
The order effectively prevented the Firm from becoming registered
with the Board until after April 1, 2006, approximately one year from the date the Board issued a
notice of hearing on the Firm’s application.
6
Bujan has only worked as an accountant through the
Firm since before the Board’s order and has not otherwise been associated with a public
accounting firm registered with the Board.
C. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”
7
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.
8
4
During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed eNucleus the $8,500
in audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
5
PCAOB Release No. 2005-016 (July 28, 2005). The order also found that the Firm’s issuance of the eNucleus
audit report violated Board Rule 2100, which implemented Section 102(a) of the Act. Id.
6
The order states that with respect to any new registration application the Firm submits after April 1, 2006,
the Board will not issue a notice of hearing to determine whether to approve or disapprove such application based
solely on the violations subject to the Board’s order. Id.
7
A violation of the Act or any rule that the Board issues under the Act is treated for all purposes in the same
manner as a violation of the Exchange Act, including with respect to penalties. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 15
U.S.C.A. § 7202(b)(1) (West 2002).
8
Section 102(a) became effective “[b]eginning 180 days after the date of the determination of the
Commission under Section 101(d)” of the Act that the Board was prepared to undertake its statutory responsibilities.
The Commission made the required determination on April 25, 2003. See Order Regarding Section 101(d) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Securities Act Release No. 8223, Exchange Act Release No. 47746, 2003 WL
1956164 (Apr. 25, 2003).
3
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully
9
violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Bujan caused the Firm’s violation of
Section 102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that the Firm willfully violated Section
102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Bujan caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from eNucleus in connection with the audit work associated with the eNucleus audit
report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this
undertaking.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondents’ Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
1. Bujan & Associates, Ltd
A. The Firm shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. The Firm is censured.
C. The Firm may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. It is registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such
registration continues to be effective; and
2. It has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the Firm that its registration application has been
approved.
“Willfully” as used in this Order means intentionally committing the act that constitutes the violation.
There is no requirement that the actor also be aware that he is violating a rule or statute. See Wonsover v. SEC, 205
F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000); Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8 (2d Cir. 1965).
4
9
2. Frank Bujan, CPA
A. Bujan shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Bujan may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. The public accounting firm with which he is associated is registered
with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such registration continues to be effective; and
2. He has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the public accounting firm with which he is
associated that its registration application has been approved.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
5
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56404 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2684 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 12765
In the Matter of
Bujan & Associates, Ltd and
Frank Bujan, CPA,
Respondents.
ORDER INSTITUTING PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND
DESIST PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE,
MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING
REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A CEASE
AND-DESIST ORDER
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that cease-
and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Bujan & Associates, Ltd and Frank
Bujan, CPA (collectively “Respondents”) pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), and that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted
against Bujan & Associates, Ltd pursuant to Section 4C1 of the Exchange Act and Rule
102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.2
1 Section 4C provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the
privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found . . .
to have willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the
securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.
2 Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) provides, in relevant part, that:
The Commission may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found . . . to have willfully
violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of any provision of the Federal securities laws
or the rules and regulations thereunder.
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondents have submitted an Offer
of Settlement (“Offer”), which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose
of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to
which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings herein, except as
to the Commission’s jurisdiction over them and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are
admitted, Respondents consent to the entry of this Order Instituting Public Administrative and
Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 4C and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Making Findings, and Imposing
Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondents’ Offer, the Commission finds3 that:
A. RESPONDENTS
1. Bujan & Associates, Ltd (the “Firm”) is an Illinois corporation and a public
accounting firm headquartered in Homer Glen, Illinois. The Firm audited eNucleus, Inc.’s
(“eNucleus”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
eNucleus dismissed the Firm as its independent auditor on December 15, 2004.
2. Frank Bujan, CPA, (“Bujan”) of Homer Glen, Illinois is a certified public
accountant licensed in the state of Illinois since 1992. Bujan was the engagement partner in
connection with the Firm’s audit of eNucleus’s financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003.
B. FACTS
1. eNucleus is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Rolling Meadows,
Illinois. eNucleus’s common stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act and trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol ENUI. For its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003, eNucleus reported revenues of $578,000 and total assets of $1.8
million.
2. eNucleus has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited eNucleus’s 2003 financial statements included in eNucleus’s
annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April 14, 2004.
As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated April 12, 2004 (the
“eNucleus audit report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB. eNucleus paid
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents’ Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any
other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
3
the Firm $8,500 for the audit work.4
4. At the time the Firm issued the eNucleus audit report, it was not registered with the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section 102(a) of the
Act.
5. Bujan was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of eNucleus’s 2003 financial
statements. Bujan participated in the preparation and issuance of the eNucleus audit report.
6. By order dated July 28, 2005, the Board disapproved an application for registration
submitted by the Firm based in part on the Firm’s violation of Section 102(a) of the Act in issuing
the eNucleus audit report.5 The order effectively prevented the Firm from becoming registered
with the Board until after April 1, 2006, approximately one year from the date the Board issued a
notice of hearing on the Firm’s application.6 Bujan has only worked as an accountant through the
Firm since before the Board’s order and has not otherwise been associated with a public
accounting firm registered with the Board.
C. VIOLATIONS
1. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.”7
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.8
4 During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed eNucleus the $8,500
in audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
5 PCAOB Release No. 2005-016 (July 28, 2005). The order also found that the Firm’s issuance of the eNucleus
audit report violated Board Rule 2100, which implemented Section 102(a) of the Act. Id.
6 The order states that with respect to any new registration application the Firm submits after April 1, 2006,
the Board will not issue a notice of hearing to determine whether to approve or disapprove such application based
solely on the violations subject to the Board’s order. Id.
7 A violation of the Act or any rule that the Board issues under the Act is treated for all purposes in the same
manner as a violation of the Exchange Act, including with respect to penalties. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 15
U.S.C.A. § 7202(b)(1) (West 2002).
8 Section 102(a) became effective “[b]eginning 180 days after the date of the determination of the
Commission under Section 101(d)” of the Act that the Board was prepared to undertake its statutory responsibilities.
The Commission made the required determination on April 25, 2003. See Order Regarding Section 101(d) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Securities Act Release No. 8223, Exchange Act Release No. 47746, 2003 WL
1956164 (Apr. 25, 2003).
3
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully9 violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Bujan caused the Firm’s violation of
Section 102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that the Firm willfully violated Section
102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and that Bujan caused the Firm’s violation of Section
102(a) of the Act.
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from eNucleus in connection with the audit work associated with the eNucleus audit
report. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered this
undertaking.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions
agreed to in Respondents’ Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
1. Bujan & Associates, Ltd
A. The Firm shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. The Firm is censured.
C. The Firm may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. It is registered with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such
registration continues to be effective; and
2. It has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the Firm that its registration application has been
approved.
“Willfully” as used in this Order means intentionally committing the act that constitutes the violation.
There is no requirement that the actor also be aware that he is violating a rule or statute. See Wonsover v. SEC, 205
F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000); Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8 (2d Cir. 1965).
4
9
2. Frank Bujan, CPA
A. Bujan shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Bujan may practice before the Commission as an independent accountant
provided that:
1. The public accounting firm with which he is associated is registered
with the Board in accordance with the Act, and such registration continues to be effective; and
2. He has submitted to the Commission staff (attention: Office of the
Chief Accountant) the Board’s letter notifying the public accounting firm with which he is
associated that its registration application has been approved.
By the Commission.
Nancy M. Morris
Secretary
5