In re Joseph Mao
Joseph Mao, a CPA, willfully violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for public company Soyodo Group Holdings while unregistered with the PCAOB, leading to a cease-and-desist order, censure, and a conditional ban from practicing before the SEC unless associated with a registered firm.
Joseph Mao, a licensed CPA, issued an audit report for Soyodo Group Holdings, Inc. for its 2003 fiscal year, despite not being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), as required by Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act after October 22, 2003. The audit, for which he was paid $2,000, was included in Soyodo’s Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC, even though the company reported no revenues and minimal assets. The SEC found Mao’s violation willful, but accepted his voluntary reimbursement of the fee, eliminating disgorgement, and imposed a cease-and-desist order, censure, and a conditional ban on practicing before the Commission.
Joseph Mao, a certified public accountant licensed in New York since 1995, issued an audit report for Soyodo Group Holdings, Inc.—a public company registered with the SEC—covering its 2003 fiscal year, despite not being registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement that took effect on October 22, 2003 under Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The audit report, dated April 5, 2004, was included in Soyodo’s Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC, even though the company reported no revenues and total assets of only $12,500. Mao received $2,000 for the audit work, but voluntarily reimbursed the fee to Soyodo before the SEC’s investigation, leading the Commission to forgo ordering disgorgement. The SEC found Mao’s actions to be willful violations of Section 102(a), as he knowingly participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report for an issuer without PCAOB registration. As part of a settlement, Mao consented to a cease-and-desist order and a censure, and agreed not to accept any further compensation from Soyodo for the audit. He is barred from appearing or practicing before the SEC unless he is associated with a PCAOB-registered firm and provides proof of such registration. This case underscores the mandatory nature of PCAOB registration for auditors of public companies under Sarbanes-Oxley.
Extracted insights
- $13K $12,500 $10K–$100K
- $2K $2,000 <$10K
- company delaware corporation
- person joseph mao
- location New York
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- company soyodo group holdings, inc.
- Joseph Mao is Certified Public Accountant
- Joseph Mao licensed in New York
- Joseph Mao audited SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc. financial statements for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
- Joseph Mao licensed as CPA since 1995
- SEC instituted proceedings against Joseph Mao
- SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc. is Delaware corporation
- SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc. headquartered in New York
- SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc. listed on OTC Bulletin Board under symbol SOYD
- SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc. reported for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 no revenues and total assets of $12,500
- Joseph Mao age 55
- Joseph Mao resides in New Hyde Park, New York
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56416 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2696 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12777
In the Matter of
Joseph Mao, CPA,
Respondent.
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 public
administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Joseph Mao,
CPA (“Respondent” or “Mao”) pursuant to Sections 4C
1
and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (“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, Respondent has 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 him and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are
admitted, Respondent consents 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 Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds
3
that:
A. RESPONDENT
Joseph Mao, CPA, 55, of New Hyde Park, New York is a certified public accountant
licensed in the state of New York and doing business as a sole proprietorship. Mao audited
SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc.’s (“Soyodo”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. Mao has been licensed as a CPA in New York since 1995.
B. FACTS
1. Soyodo (known as TOP Group Holdings, Inc. during the relevant time period) is a
Delaware corporation with its headquarters in New York. Soyodo’s common stock is registered
with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol SOYD (the company’s symbol was QXIT during the relevant
time period). For its fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Soyodo reported no revenues and total
assets of $12,500.
2. Soyodo has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. Mao audited Soyodo’s 2003 financial statements included in Soyodo’s annual
report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April 13, 2004. As part
of that audit, Mao prepared and issued an audit report dated April 5, 2004 (the “Soyodo audit
report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB. Soyodo paid Mao $2,000 for the
audit work.
4
3
The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondent’s Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any
other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
4
Before the Commission’s investigation, Mao voluntarily reimbursed Soyodo the $2,000 in audit fees. In
view of Mao’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
2
4. At the time Mao prepared and issued the Soyodo audit report, he was not registered
with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section
102(a) of the Act.
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.”
5
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.
6
3. Based on the conduct described above, Respondent willfully
7
violated Section
102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that Mao willfully violated Section 102(a)
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondent has undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Soyodo in connection with the audit work associated with the Soyodo 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 Respondent’s Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
5
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).
6
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).
7
“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
A. Mao shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future
violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Mao is censured.
C. Mao 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
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
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56416 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2696 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12777
In the Matter of
Joseph Mao, CPA,
Respondent.
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 public
administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Joseph Mao,
CPA (“Respondent” or “Mao”) pursuant to Sections 4C1 and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (“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, Respondent has 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 him and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are
admitted, Respondent consents 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 Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds3 that:
A. RESPONDENT
Joseph Mao, CPA, 55, of New Hyde Park, New York is a certified public accountant
licensed in the state of New York and doing business as a sole proprietorship. Mao audited
SOYODO Group Holdings, Inc.’s (“Soyodo”) financial statements for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. Mao has been licensed as a CPA in New York since 1995.
B. FACTS
1. Soyodo (known as TOP Group Holdings, Inc. during the relevant time period) is a
Delaware corporation with its headquarters in New York. Soyodo’s common stock is registered
with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol SOYD (the company’s symbol was QXIT during the relevant
time period). For its fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Soyodo reported no revenues and total
assets of $12,500.
2. Soyodo has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. Mao audited Soyodo’s 2003 financial statements included in Soyodo’s annual
report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on April 13, 2004. As part
of that audit, Mao prepared and issued an audit report dated April 5, 2004 (the “Soyodo audit
report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-KSB. Soyodo paid Mao $2,000 for the
audit work.4
3 The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondent’s Offer of Settlement and are not binding on any
other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
4 Before the Commission’s investigation, Mao voluntarily reimbursed Soyodo the $2,000 in audit fees. In
view of Mao’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this matter.
2
4. At the time Mao prepared and issued the Soyodo audit report, he was not registered
with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “Board”), as required by Section
102(a) of the Act.
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.”5
2. The provisions of Section 102(a) of the Act became effective on October 22, 2003.6
3. Based on the conduct described above, Respondent willfully7 violated Section
102(a) of the Act.
D. FINDINGS
Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that Mao willfully violated Section 102(a)
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondent has undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Soyodo in connection with the audit work associated with the Soyodo 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 Respondent’s Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, effective immediately, that:
5 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).
6 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).
7 “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
A. Mao shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future
violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Mao is censured.
C. Mao 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
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