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In re F. X. Duffy & Co.

summary

F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and its engagement partner Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA, willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing audit reports for public company Sentry Builders Corp. in 2003 and 2004 while unregistered with the PCAOB, leading to a SEC cease-and-desist order and professional sanctions.

paragraph

F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by preparing and issuing audit reports for Sentry Builders Corp.’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years despite not being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement effective October 22, 2003. Duffy, as the engagement partner, participated in the issuance of these noncompliant reports, causing the firm’s violation. The SEC imposed a cease-and-desist order and censured both respondents, prohibiting them from practicing before the Commission unless their firm is properly PCAOB-registered and proof is submitted to the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant.

narrative

F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and its engagement partner, Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA, willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing audit reports for Sentry Builders Corp. for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2003 and 2004, despite not being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement that became effective on October 22, 2003. Sentry Builders, a public company registered with the SEC, included these audit reports in its Form 10-K filings on August 5, 2004, falsely certifying compliance with federal auditing standards. Duffy, as the responsible partner, actively participated in the preparation and issuance of the noncompliant reports, thereby causing the firm’s violation. Without admitting or denying the allegations, the respondents consented to a settlement with the SEC, which resulted in a cease-and-desist order and formal censure. Both the firm and Duffy are prohibited from appearing or practicing before the SEC unless they are associated with a PCAOB-registered firm and submit proof of registration to the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant. The SEC also barred them from receiving any further compensation from Sentry Builders related to the fraudulent audits. This case underscores the SEC’s enforcement of PCAOB registration mandates as a critical safeguard for audit integrity in public markets.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
accounting-fraud (100%)
Outcome
settled
Classified accounting-fraud(confidence 100%). EDGAR detection: forms 10-K/10-Q/8-K/NT 10-K· recall 80% / precision 48%. detection rule →
Statutes
SECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACTSECTIONS 4C AND 21C OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionF. X. Duffy & Co., Inc.Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA
Keywords
sentry builderscommissionduffyfirmsentrybuilderssecurities exchangeexchangesecuritiesrespondentsaudit reportsorderpublicproceedingsaudit

Extracted insights

Entities 3
  • company f. x. duffy & co., inc.
  • person sentry builders
  • agency the securities and exchange commission
Triples 8
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission deems it appropriate that cease-and-desist proceedings be instituted against F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission has determined to accept Respondents' Offer of Settlement
  • The Commission finds that Respondents have submitted an Offer of Settlement
  • F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation and accounting firm headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. audited Sentry Builders Corp.’s financial statements for the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years ended July 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively
  • Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA is a certified public accountant licensed in the state of Pennsylvania since 1992
  • Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA was the engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Sentry Builders’ financial statements for the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years
  • Sentry Builders is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Huntington, New York
Text layers
Extracted body text (9,106c)

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
                                                                     Before                                                                     the                                                                     
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
Release No. 56411 / September 13, 2007 
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT 
Release No. 2691/ September 13, 2007 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-12772 
In the Matter of 
F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and 
Kevin Patrick Duffy, 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 F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and Kevin 
Patrick Duffy, 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 F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. 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. F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. (the “Firm”) is a Pennsylvania corporation and 
accounting firm headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The Firm audited Sentry Builders 
Corp.’s (“Sentry Builders”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years 
ended July 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively.   
2. Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA, (“Duffy”), 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a 
certified public accountant licensed in the state of Pennsylvania since 1992.  Duffy was the 
engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Sentry Builders’ financial statements for 
the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years. 
B.        FACTS        
1. Sentry Builders is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Huntington, New 
York. During the relevant period, Sentry Builders’ common stock was registered with the 
Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.  For its fiscal year ended July 31, 
2003, Sentry Builders reported no revenues and no assets. 
2. Sentry Builders has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”). 
3. The Firm audited Sentry Builders’ 2003 and 2004 financial statements included in 
Sentry Builders’ annual report for fiscal years 2003 and 2004, respectively, on Form 10-K,  both 
filed with the Commission on August 5, 2004.  As part of the audits, the Firm prepared and issued 
two separate audit reports dated June 18, 2004 (the “Sentry Builders audit reports”), which the 
company included in its 2003 and 2004 Form 10-Ks.  
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 

4. At the time the Firm issued the Sentry Builders audit reports, it was not registered 
with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section 
102(a) of the Act. 
5. Duffy was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Sentry Builders’ 2003 and 
2004 financial statements.  Duffy participated in the preparation and issuance of the Sentry 
Builders audit reports. 
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.”
4 
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.
5 
3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully
6
 violated Section 102(a) 
of the Act. 
4. Based on the conduct described above, Duffy 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 Duffy 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 Sentry Builders in connection with the audit work associated with the Sentry 
Builders audit reports. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered 
this undertaking. 
4 
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). 
5 
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). 
6 
“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). 
3


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. F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. 
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. 
2. Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA 
A.            Duffy            shall            cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and 
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act. 
B. Duffy 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 
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OCR text (8,698c · tika · 95% conf)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 Before the 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
Release No. 56411 / September 13, 2007 

ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT 
Release No. 2691/ September 13, 2007 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-12772 

In the Matter of 

F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and 
Kevin Patrick Duffy, 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 F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. and Kevin 
Patrick Duffy, 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 F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. 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. F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. (the “Firm”) is a Pennsylvania corporation and 
accounting firm headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The Firm audited Sentry Builders 
Corp.’s (“Sentry Builders”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years 
ended July 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively.   

2. Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA, (“Duffy”), 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a 
certified public accountant licensed in the state of Pennsylvania since 1992.  Duffy was the 
engagement partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Sentry Builders’ financial statements for 
the company’s 2003 and 2004 fiscal years. 

B. FACTS 

1. Sentry Builders is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Huntington, New 
York. During the relevant period, Sentry Builders’ common stock was registered with the 
Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.  For its fiscal year ended July 31, 
2003, Sentry Builders reported no revenues and no assets. 

2. Sentry Builders has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”). 

3. The Firm audited Sentry Builders’ 2003 and 2004 financial statements included in 
Sentry Builders’ annual report for fiscal years 2003 and 2004, respectively, on Form 10-K,  both 
filed with the Commission on August 5, 2004.  As part of the audits, the Firm prepared and issued 
two separate audit reports dated June 18, 2004 (the “Sentry Builders audit reports”), which the 
company included in its 2003 and 2004 Form 10-Ks.  

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 



4. At the time the Firm issued the Sentry Builders audit reports, it was not registered 
with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section 
102(a) of the Act. 

5. Duffy was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Sentry Builders’ 2003 and 
2004 financial statements.  Duffy participated in the preparation and issuance of the Sentry 
Builders audit reports. 

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.”4 

2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.5 

3. Based on the conduct described above, the Firm willfully6 violated Section 102(a) 
of the Act. 

4. Based on the conduct described above, Duffy 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 Duffy 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 Sentry Builders in connection with the audit work associated with the Sentry 
Builders audit reports. In determining whether to accept the Offer, the Commission has considered 
this undertaking. 

4 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). 

5 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). 

6 “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). 

3




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. F. X. Duffy & Co., Inc. 

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. 

2. Kevin Patrick Duffy, CPA 

A. Duffy shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and 
any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act. 

B. Duffy 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  

4