In re McNeal
McNeal, Williamson & Co. and its engagement partner Daniel L. Williamson violated Sarbanes-Oxley §102(a) by issuing a 2003 audit report for Logan County BancShares while unregistered with the PCAOB, leading to a cease-and-desist order, censure, and mandatory reimbursement of $32,000 in audit fees.
McNeal, Williamson & Co. and Daniel L. Williamson, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Logan County BancShares, Inc. in February 2004 while the firm was not registered with the PCAOB, a requirement effective since October 2003. The firm received $32,000 in audit fees for the work, which was included in Logan County’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Both respondents consented to a cease-and-desist order, were censured, and voluntarily reimbursed the audit fees, avoiding disgorgement, but remain barred from practicing before the SEC unless properly registered and approved.
McNeal, Williamson & Co., a West Virginia-based accounting firm, and its engagement partner Daniel L. Williamson, CPA, violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by issuing an audit report for Logan County BancShares, Inc. on February 26, 2004, despite the firm’s failure to register with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a legal requirement that took effect on October 22, 2003. The audit report was included in Logan County’s 2003 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC, and the firm was paid $32,000 for its services. Williamson, as the lead auditor, was found to have caused the violation, and both respondents were found to have willfully violated the law. In anticipation of SEC proceedings, they submitted a settlement offer, consenting to a cease-and-desist order and censure without admitting or denying the findings. The firm voluntarily reimbursed Logan County the full $32,000 in audit fees, eliminating the need for disgorgement. As part of the settlement, both are prohibited from appearing or practicing before the SEC unless the firm becomes properly registered with the PCAOB and submits proof of registration to the Commission’s Office of the Chief Accountant.
Extracted insights
- $176.00M $176 million $100M–$1B
- $32K $32,000 $10K–$100K
- company a west virginia corporation
- person daniel l. williamson
- company financial statements of logan county bancshares, inc.
- person logan county
- company mcneal, williamson & co.
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities and Exchange Commission instituted cease-and-desist proceedings
- Securities and Exchange Commission instituted public administrative proceedings
- McNeal, Williamson & Co. is a West Virginia partnership
- McNeal, Williamson & Co. is a public accounting firm
- McNeal, Williamson & Co. audited financial statements of Logan County BancShares, Inc.
- McNeal, Williamson & Co. resigned as Logan County’s independent auditor
- Daniel L. Williamson is a certified public accountant
- Daniel L. Williamson was the engagement partner
- Logan County is a West Virginia corporation
- Logan County reported revenues of $8.8 million
- Logan County reported total assets of $176 million
- Respondents submitted an Offer of Settlement
- Securities and Exchange Commission accepted Offer of Settlement
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56417 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2697 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12778
In the Matter of
McNeal, Williamson & Co. and
Daniel L. Williamson, 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 McNeal, Williamson & Co. and
Daniel L. Williamson, 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 McNeal, Williamson & Co. 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. McNeal, Williamson & Co. (the “Firm”) is a West Virginia partnership and a
public accounting firm headquartered in Logan, West Virginia. The Firm audited the financial
statements of Logan County BancShares, Inc. (“Logan County”) for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. The Firm resigned as Logan County’s independent auditor on or
around July 28, 2004.
2. Daniel L. Williamson, 61, of Kenova, West Virginia, is a certified public
accountant licensed in the state of West Virginia since 1976. Williamson was the engagement
partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Logan County’s financial statements for the
company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
B. FACTS
1. Logan County is a West Virginia corporation with its headquarters in Logan, West
Virginia. For its fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Logan County reported revenues of $8.8
million and total assets of $176 million.
2. Logan County has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Logan County’s 2003 financial statements included in Logan
County’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on April 14,
2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated February 26, 2004
(the “Logan County audit report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-K. Logan
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.
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-
3
County paid the Firm $32,000 for the audit work.
4
4. At the time the Firm issued the Logan County 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. Williamson was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Logan County’s
2003 financial statements. Williamson participated in the preparation and issuance of the Logan
County audit report.
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, the Firm willfully
7
violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Williamson 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 Williamson caused the Firm’s violation of
Section 102(a) of the Act.
4
During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed Logan County the
$32,000 in audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this
matter.
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).
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E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Logan County in connection with the audit work associated with the Logan
County 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. McNeal, Williamson & Co.
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. Daniel L. Williamson, CPA
A. Williamson shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Williamson 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
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-
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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-UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 56417 / September 13, 2007
ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ENFORCEMENT
Release No. 2697 / September 13, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-12778
In the Matter of
McNeal, Williamson & Co. and
Daniel L. Williamson, 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 McNeal, Williamson & Co. and
Daniel L. Williamson, 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 McNeal, Williamson & Co. 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. McNeal, Williamson & Co. (the “Firm”) is a West Virginia partnership and a
public accounting firm headquartered in Logan, West Virginia. The Firm audited the financial
statements of Logan County BancShares, Inc. (“Logan County”) for the company’s 2003 fiscal
year ended December 31, 2003. The Firm resigned as Logan County’s independent auditor on or
around July 28, 2004.
2. Daniel L. Williamson, 61, of Kenova, West Virginia, is a certified public
accountant licensed in the state of West Virginia since 1976. Williamson was the engagement
partner in connection with the Firm’s audit of Logan County’s financial statements for the
company’s 2003 fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
B. FACTS
1. Logan County is a West Virginia corporation with its headquarters in Logan, West
Virginia. For its fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Logan County reported revenues of $8.8
million and total assets of $176 million.
2. Logan County has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”).
3. The Firm audited Logan County’s 2003 financial statements included in Logan
County’s annual report for fiscal year 2003 on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on April 14,
2004. As part of that audit, the Firm prepared and issued an audit report dated February 26, 2004
(the “Logan County audit report”), which the company included in its 2003 Form 10-K. Logan
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.
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3
County paid the Firm $32,000 for the audit work.4
4. At the time the Firm issued the Logan County 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. Williamson was the engagement partner on the Firm’s audit of Logan County’s
2003 financial statements. Williamson participated in the preparation and issuance of the Logan
County audit report.
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, the Firm willfully7 violated Section 102(a)
of the Act.
4. Based on the conduct described above, Williamson 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 Williamson caused the Firm’s violation of
Section 102(a) of the Act.
4 During the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Firm voluntarily reimbursed Logan County the
$32,000 in audit fees. In view of the Firm’s reimbursement, the Commission is not ordering disgorgement in this
matter.
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
E. UNDERTAKING
Respondents have undertaken not to request, demand, or accept, directly or indirectly, any
compensation from Logan County in connection with the audit work associated with the Logan
County 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. McNeal, Williamson & Co.
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. Daniel L. Williamson, CPA
A. Williamson shall cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Section 102(a) of the Act.
B. Williamson 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
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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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