SEC v. ERIC J. WATSON; OLIVER-BARRET LINDSAY; and GANNON GIGUIERE, No. 1:21-cv-05923, Southern District of New York (July 15, 2025) — Complaint

RICHARD R. BEST
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Sanjay Wadhwa
Sheldon L. Pollock
John O. Enright
Mark R. Sylvester
Lindsay S. Moilanen
Attorneys for Plaintiff
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
New York Regional Office
Brookfield Place
200 Vesey Street, Suite 400
New York, New York 10281-1022
(212) 336-0159 (S ylvester)
[email protected]
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
-against-
ERIC J. WATSON,
OLIVER-BARRET LINDSAY, and
GANNON GIGUIERE,
Defendants.
COMPLAINT
21 Civ. _____ ( )
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), for its Complaint against
Defendants Eric J. Watson (“ Watson”), Oliver-Barret Lindsay (“ Lindsay”), and Gannon Giguiere
(“Giguiere”) (collectively, “Defendants ”),  alleges as follows:
SUMMARY
1. This matter involves an insider trading scheme conducted in late 2017, in which
Watson, a corporate insider and the controlling shareholder of Long Island Iced Tea Corp. (now
known as Long Blockchain Corp.) (hereinafter, “LTEA”), tipped his friend, business associate, and

broker, Lindsay, with material nonpublic information regarding LTEA’s impending announcement
that it was significantly changing its business from soft drink manufacture to blockchain technology
(the “Announcement”). At the time, LTEA’s shares were publicly traded on NASDAQ.
2. On December 20, 2017, Lindsay conveyed this material nonpublic information
regarding the impending Announcement to Giguiere, his friend and co-conspirator in prior market
manipulation schemes. Within hours of receiving this confidential information, Giguiere purchased
35,000 LTEA shares.
3. On the following day, December 21, 2017, LTEA issued the Announcement, stating
that LTEA was “shifting its primary corporate focus towards the exploration of and investment in
opportunities that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology” compared to “the ready-to -drink
segment of the beverage industry,” as well as changing its name to “Long Blockchain Corp.” in
place of “Long Island Iced Tea Corp.”
4. As a result of the Announcement, the company’s stock price and trading volume
skyrocketed, with the intraday stock price spiking 388%, on increased trading volume of 1,000%,
before closing at $6.91, an increase of more than 180% from the prior day’s closing price.
5. In less than two hours following the Announcement, Giguiere sold the 35,000 LTEA
shares he had purchased the day before, realizing $162,500 in illicit profits.
VIOLATIONS
6. By virtue of the foregoing conduct and as alleged further herein, Defendants
Watson, Lindsay, and Giguiere have violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 ].
7. Unless Defendants are restrained and enjoined, they will engage in the acts, practices,
transactions, and courses of business set forth in this Complaint or in acts, practices, transactions,
and courses of business of similar type and object.
2

NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND RELIEF SOUGHT
8. The Commission brings this action pursuant to the authority conferred upon it by
Sections 21(d) and 21A of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d), 78u-1(a)].
9. The Commission seeks a final judgment: (a) permanently enjoining Defendants from
violating Section 10(b) of  the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, pursuant to Section 21(d)
of  the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)]; (b) ordering Defendants to disgorge their ill-gotten gains
with prejudgment interest thereon, pursuant to Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) of the Exchange Act
[15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(5), 78u(d)(7)];  (c) ordering Defendants to pay civil money penalties pursuant to
Section 21A of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u-1]; and (d) permanently prohibiting Watson from
serving as an officer or director of any company that has a class of securities registered under
Exchange Act Section 12 [15 U.S.C. § 78l] or that is required to file reports under Exchange Act
Section 15(d) [15 U.S.C. § 78o(d)], pursuant to Exchange Act Section 21(d)(2) [15 U.S.C.
§ 78u(d)(2)]; and (e) ordering any other and further relief th e Court may deem just and proper.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
10. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Section 27 of the Exchange
Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa].
11. Defendants, directly and indirectly, have made use of the means or instrumentalities
of interstate commerce or of the mails in connection with the transactions, acts, practices, and
courses of business alleged herein.
12. Venue lies in this District under Section 27 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa].
Certain of  the acts, practices, transactions, and courses of  business alleged in this Complaint
occurred within this District, including that at all relevant times, LTEA shares traded on NASDAQ,
which is located in New York, New York.
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DEFENDANTS
13. Watson, age 60, is a New Zealand citizen and believed to be a resident of London,
United Kingdom.  Watson has never been registered with the Commission and holds no securities
licenses. At all relevant times, Watson controlled over 30% of the shares of LTEA, personally and
through companies he controlled.
14. In 2001, the Commission issued settled administrative proceedings against Watson
for violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder in connection with his
insider trading in McCollam Printers, Ltd., a publicly traded New Zealand-based issuer.
1
15. Lindsay, age 44, is a Canadian citizen and resident of Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada.  Lindsay has never been registered with the Commission and he holds no U.S. securities
licenses. At all relevant times, Lindsay was the principal of CMGT Capital Management, a Cayman
Islands-exempt broker-dealer registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
16. On July 16, 2018, Lindsay was charged, along with Giguiere, by the Commission
with violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder for his role in a
manipulative trading scheme.
2
See SEC v. Giguiere, et al., No. 18-cv  -01530 (S.D. Cal.) (“SEC v.
Giguiere”).  At the same time, Lindsay was criminally charged for the same conduct. See United States
v. Giguiere, et al., No. 18-cr  -03071 (S.D. Cal.) (“U.S. v. Giguiere”).  On July 23, 2019, Lindsay pleaded
guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.  Both cases are currently pending in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
1
See Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings,
and Imposing a Cease-and-Desist Order, Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Release No. 44934 (Oct. 15, 2001), available
at   https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/34-44934.htm.
2
Penny stocks, also known as “microcaps,” are not listed on a national securities exchange such as NASDAQ; they
instead trade over the counter at prices below $5 and are typically issued by companies with little to no revenue or assets.
4

17. Giguiere, age 47, resides in Newport Coast, California.  Giguiere has never been
registered with the Commission and he holds no securities licenses.  At all relevant times, Giguiere
owned and operated TheMoneyStreet.com (“TMS”), a stock promotion website.
18. On July 16, 2018, Giguiere was charged, along with Lindsay, by the Commission
with violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder for his role in two
fraudulent schemes. See SEC v. Giguiere.  At the same time, he was charged criminally for the same
conduct. See U.S. v. Giguiere.  On August 1, 2019, Giguiere pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy
to commit securities fraud.  Both cases are currently pending in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of California.
OTHER RELEVANT INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES
19. LTEA is a Delaware corporation with a principal place of business in Farmingdale,
New York. Until the Commission revoked its registration on February 19, 2021, LTEA was a
reporting company with a class of securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
3
LTEA’s common stock traded on NASDAQ from approximately July 2016 to April 2018, when
NASDAQ delisted LTEA for making “a series of public statements designed to mislead investors
and to take advantage of the general investor interest in bitcoin and blockchain technology.”
20. Company A is a New Zealand company with a principal place of business in
London, England. In late 2017, according to materials prepared by Company A, it was “a holding
company with interests in various financial services” including a foreign exchange brokerage, and it
was purportedly “developing proprietary Blockchain technology” and “developing . . . a Blockchain
enabled platform.”
3
See Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings,
and Revoking Registration of Securities, Exchange Act Release No. 91174 (Feb. 19, 2021), available at
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2021/34-91174.pdf.
5

21. Individual A, age 55, resides in Carmel, California.  At all relevant times, he was a
microcap stock promoter who participated and, while acting as a confidential source to law
enforcement, purported to participate in stock promotion schemes with Lindsay and Giguiere.
22. Individual B, age 25, resides in New York, New York. He is Watson’s son.
Individual B has never been registered with the Commission and holds no securities licenses. At all
relevant times, he was a consultant for Company A.
FACTS
I. DEFENDANTS’ RELATIONSHIP PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT
23. Prior to, and concurrent with, the insider trading scheme alleged herein, Giguiere and
Lindsay engaged in other fraudulent schemes together.
24. As alleged in the Commission’s complaint in SEC v. Giguiere, Giguiere and Lindsay
engaged together in “pump-and-dump” schemes to defraud investors in microcap securities.
25. Specifically, in the fall of 2017, Giguiere and Lindsay received shares of Kelvin
Medical, Inc. (“KVMD”), engaged in matched trades to increase the price of KVMD shares from
$0.00 to $1.37, and caused KVMD to issue press releases in order to further increase the price of
shares, intending to quickly sell their shares into the market.
26. In and around 2017, Lindsay’s business model included organizing shell companies,
finding suitable public companies for reverse mergers, executing reverse mergers with the shell
companies, providing financing, and working with management on corporate development and
news releases and other promotional efforts.
27. Lindsay coordinated the new company’s press releases and, at the same time,
accumulated the company’s stock and arranged for stock promotion.  Through this process, Lindsay
profited from the sale of stock, frequently at the expense of unsuspecting retail investors.
6

28. Lindsay traveled frequently to manage and grow relationships in connection with
these efforts.
29. At all relevant times, Watson was a friend and business associate, and also a
brokerage client, of Lindsay’s.
30. In November 2017, shortly before the trading at issue here, Lindsay and Watson met
in Miami in person for dinner.
31. At around this time, Lindsay was an LTEA shareholder.
32. Throughout late 2017, Lindsay and Watson exchanged frequent messages and calls,
using an encrypted call and messaging application.  Among other things, they discussed Watson’s
plans for LTEA; the possibility of Company A, a company to which Watson had several ties,
completing an initial public offering; and the promotion of another microcap issuer in which
Watson held a controlling interest.
33. In or about September 2017, Watson sought to use Lindsay’s connections within the
microcap industry to promote LTEA.
34. Shortly thereafter, Lindsay introduced Watson to Giguiere for the purpose of
promoting LTEA on TMS.
35. Giguiere used the TMS website for stock promotion, including in connection with
“pump and dump” schemes.
36. Giguiere agreed to promote LTEA through TMS but did very little promotion
because he was instructed to pause any promotional efforts during the period that LTEA was
considering and then preparing for its purported shift to blockchain technology.
37. Lindsay served as the conduit for communication between Watson and Giguiere.
38. Giguiere was aware of Watson’s and Lindsay’s relationship, and understood Watson
was an LTEA corporate insider.  For example, on December 4, 2017, Lindsay told Giguiere, “Spoke
7

to Eric [Watson] this morning about canceling the spending on LTEA b/c company is in a quiet
period right now b/c of S-1.  Eric [Watson] put the deal together; he’s a client of mine.”
39. Lindsay, Giguiere, and Individual A exchanged numerous phone calls and text
messages during the period of October 2017 through December 2017.  These three had a group text
thread on an encrypted messaging application, labeled “Daily Updates,” in which they discussed
their daily trading plans in various stocks.  They also frequently discussed Lindsay’s conversations
with Watson regarding LTEA. They used the encrypted messaging application to conceal their
messages from governmental authorities.
II. WATSON PLANNED AND EXECUTED LTEA’S PURPORTED “PIVOT” TO
BLOCKCHAIN
40. LTEA was formed in May 2015 through a merger between Long Island Brand
Beverages and Cullen Agricultural Corp., a company owned and controlled by Watson.
41. Prior to the Announcement, LTEA was principally engaged in the production and
distribution of premium, non-alcoholic, ready-to -drink beverages.
42. In September 2017, Watson controlled more than 30% of LTEA’s common stock.
43. At that time, Watson suggested to the Chairman of LTEA’s Board of Directors that
the company shift its business from soft drink production to any of a number of possible other
businesses, including blockchain-related ventures.
44. Watson continued his pitch and, by December 2017, he had convinced the company
to “pivot” from soft drink manufacture to blockchain-related business.
45. On December 4, 2017, LTEA met with Company A, which, according to Watson,
was seeking to enter the blockchain space.  Watson introduced Company A to LTEA.
46. Watson had a number of ties to Company A at this time.  Company A had been
incorporated in New Zealand by a friend of Watson a few months earlier, and Individual B,
Watson’s son, was a consultant for Company A.
8

47. On December 5, 2017, Company A and LTEA entered into a confidentiality
agreement. This agreement included a provision forbidding Company A from disclosing any
confidential information without the written consent of LTEA and forbidding Company A from
engaging in securities transactions involving the securities of LTEA while in possession of
confidential information.  As of at least December 9, 2017, Watson was aware of the existence of
th is agreement between Company A and LTEA.
48. On December 7, 2017, Individual B sent a written proposal outlining the steps
LTEA should take to “[r]efocus . . . in the blockchain technology/digital asset markets” to two
LTEA board members, Watson, and others.
49. On the same day, LTEA purchased the domain name www.longblockchain.com.
50. On December 11, 2017, LTEA entered into a consulting agreement with an
individual to assist in evaluating blockchain opportunities.
51. On December 18, 2017, LTEA and Watson entered into a Confidentiality
Agreement governing Watson’s treatment of LTEA’s confidential information, including “all
information whether of a technical, business or other nature . . . that is or may be disclosed” by
LTEA to Watson, including “all information concerning . . . product launches or offerings.” Per
this Confidentiality Agreement, Watson was prohibited from disclosing any of LTEA’s information
without LTEA’s prior written consent. He was further prohibited from engaging in “any transaction
involving the securities of [LTEA] while in possession of any Confidential Information.”
52. On December 19, 2017, Watson and Individual B, Watson’s son, met with LTEA to
discuss Individual B’s purported expertise in blockchain.  On the same day, LTEA’s Board of
Directors approved changing the company’s name to Long Blockchain Corp.
53. On December 21, 2017, LTEA issued the Announcement, calling its shift to
blockchain technology a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
9

III. WATSON OWED A DUTY TO LTEA AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO
REFRAIN FROM USING LTEA’S INFORMATION FOR HIS PERSONAL
BENEFIT
54. As a corporate insider and the controlling shareholder of LTEA, Watson had a
fiduciary and other relationship of trust and confidence with LTEA and its shareholders that
obligated him not to disclose or trade on LTEA’s information for his personal benefit.
55. In addition, Watson had a duty of trust and confidence not to disclose or trade on
LTEA’s information for his personal benefit based on his Confidentiality Agreement with LTEA,
which forbade him from disclosing any of LTEA’s confidential information without LTEA’s prior
written consent and from engaging in transactions involving LTEA’s securities when in possession
of LTEA’s confidential information.
IV. WATSON TIPPED LINDSAY WITH MATERIAL NONPUBLIC
INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPENDING ANNOUNCEMENT, AND
LINDSAY CONVEYED THIS INFORMATION TO GIGUIERE PRIOR TO THE
ANNOUNCEMENT
56. Throughout the events leading up to the Announcement, Defendants continuously
communicated about LTEA and its business prospects, including Watson’s ongoing and ultimately
successful efforts to convince LTEA’s management to shift its business from soft drink
manufacturing to blockchain technology.
57. On December 4, 2017, the same day that LTEA met with Company A, the New
Zealand company purportedly seeking to enter the blockchain space, Lindsay told Giguiere and
Individual A that he had been “trying to reach the guy behind the deal on Long Island Iced Tea all
weekend, and he finally called me back this morning.”  Lindsay later specified that the individual he
spoke to that morning who was the source of Lindsay’s information about LTEA was “Eric”
[Watson], and again described Watson as “the guy who put the deal together.”
58. On the same day, Lindsay told Giguiere and Individual A that Watson told Lindsay
that “[t]hey may announce an agreement with a blockchain deal.” Lindsay, Giguiere, and Individual
10

A further discussed that, in light of this possible impending announcement, any “spend” on TMS’s
promotion of LTEA should be paused.
59. On December 5, 2017, Lindsay called Individual A and informed him that LTEA
planned to go through with the blockchain deal and planned to make an announcement to that
effect the following week. Individual A told Lindsay that he would tell Giguiere that LTEA had
decided to pursue the deal.
60. Later that day, Individual A sent a message to Giguiere using an encrypted messaging
application, copying Lindsay, and stating:  “LTEA is going to move fed [sic] with block chain deal.”
61. The next day, Lindsay, Giguiere, and Individual A chatted via an encrypted
messaging application about LTEA’s strategy and focus on blockchain.
62. On December 7, 2017, the same day that LTEA purchased a domain name reflecting
its planned name change to “Long Blockchain Corp.,” Lindsay sent to Giguiere, via encrypted email,
a PowerPoint presentation regarding Company A.
63. On December 11, 2017, the same day that LTEA entered into a consulting
agreement to evaluate blockchain opportunities, Lindsay called Individual A and reported that
Lindsay had spoken to Watson that day and requested an LTEA shareholder list, that Lindsay was
considering “buy[ing] some more stock while it’s down here, while were are waiting for this other
stuff to materialize,” and that Watson was continuing to work with the company to get the
blockchain deal to “materialize.”
64. Lindsay explained to Individual A that he had requested the LTEA shareholder list
because it would prove Watson had control over the LTEA, which would make Lindsay more
confident about the merits of purchasing additional LTEA shares.  Later in the call, Lindsay
confirmed that he had received the shareholder list from Watson.
11

65. On December 16, 2017, Watson sent Lindsay a slide deck called “[Company A]
Blockchain Strategy Deck [Initials of Individual B]” via an encrypted messaging application. Lindsay
forwarded this slide deck to an acquaintance who was a microcap stock promoter unaffiliated with
Giguiere or TMS.
66. The following day, Watson messaged Lindsay, expressing his confidence that LTEA
was going forward with his proposed “pivot” to blockchain technology, stating that “Tea WILL be
BC.”
67. On December 18, 2017, Watson entered into the Confidentiality Agreement, which,
among other things, prohibited him from sharing any information he acquired from LTEA without
LTEA’s prior written consent.  Watson never received any written consent from LTEA to share its
information with Lindsay.
68. Starting the next day, December 19, 2017, Watson began sharing various drafts of
the Announcement with Lindsay.
69. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on December 19, 2017, Watson sent to Lindsay via
encrypted messaging application a draft of the Announcement entitled (with brackets in original),
“Long Island Iced Tea Corp. Changing Name to [Long BlockChain Corp.], Shifts Strategic
Direction Towards Opportunities in Blockchain Technologies.”  This draft Announcement
explained that that “[t]he primary focus of the Company will now be the exploration of and
investment into opportunities that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology.”
70. Just before midnight on December 19, 2017, Watson sent to Lindsay, via encrypted
messaging application, a revised draft version of the Announcement. A few hours later, Lindsay
forwarded, via encrypted messaging application, this draft version to a colleague with whom he
worked  .
12

71. On the morning of the following day, December 20, 2017, Individual B, Watson’s
son, sent the final draft version of the Announcement to Watson.  This version of the
Announcement was the one ultimately issued the next day.
72. Watson thereafter sent the final version of the Announcement to Lindsay via
encrypted messaging application, and wrote “Smiling?”
73. Lindsay replied to Watson:  “Laughing . . . good job getting that done.”  Watson then
replied:  “When the market sees the [Company A] deal we may have a $50 stock.”  LTEA’s closing
price on that day was $2.44.
74. After receiving the final version of the Announcement from Watson on December
20, 2017, Lindsay sent it via encrypted messaging application to Giguiere and Individual A. By this
time, Lindsay had been telling Giguiere and Individual A for weeks that LTEA would announce its
“pivot” to the blockchain business and expected that the recipients of this material nonpublic
information would use it to trade with the expectation that the Announcement would cause a spike
in LTEA’s share price.
75. On the same day, Lindsay sent a message via encrypted messaging application to
approximately six individuals that “LTEA is coming back.”
76. Giguiere read the Announcement he received from Lindsay, commenting to Lindsay
and Individual A that they would need to be “mindful” regarding TMS’s promotion of LTEA
because “the regulators are scrutinizing Block an[d] Crypto deals that are being promoted right
now.”
77. Giguiere then asked Lindsay whether LTEA was making the Announcement that
day, and Lindsay replied:  “Should be now . .  . Or post market . . . I guess we will know shortly.” A
couple of hours later, Lindsay updated Giguiere on the timing of the Announcement, stating:  “He’s
working on releasing . . . With legal.”
13

78. Within hours of receiving Lindsay’s message, Giguiere placed two market orders to
buy a total of 35,000 LTEA shares, which were executed at an average cost of $2.42 per share.
V. LTEA MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND GIGUIERE REAPED ILLEGAL
PROFITS
79. On December 21, 2017, at 8:32 am, LTEA issued the Announcement, stating that it
was “shifting its primary corporate focus toward the exploration of and investment in opportunities
that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology,” and that, in connection with this purported
strategic shift, LTEA was changing its name to Long Blockchain Corp.
80. As a result of the Announcement, LTEA’s trading volume and share price
skyrocketed.  LTEA’s trading volume that day was over 15 million shares, whereas its historical
average volume was about 125,000 shares. LTEA’s closing price per share that day was $6.91, an
increase of $4.47, or approximately 183%, from the previous day’s closing price of $2.44.
81. Less than two hours after the Announcement, Giguiere sold the 35,000 shares of
LTEA he had purchased the previous day, realizing $162,500 in illicit profits. On the same day,
Lindsay’s business associate asked Lindsay via an encrypted chat message why Lindsay did not tell
him to buy LTEA prior to the Announcement.  Lindsay replied: “I think I told everyone.”
VI. WATSON, LINDSAY, AND GIGUIERE VIOLATED THE FEDERAL
SECURITIES LAWS
A. THE INFORMATION REGARDING LTEA’S IMPENDING
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MATERIAL AND NONPUBLIC
82. The information that Watson tipped Lindsay, and that Lindsay then shared with
Giguiere, regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement was material because there is a substantial
likelihood a reasonable investor would consider the information important in deciding whether to
purchase or sell LTEA securities.
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83. The information that Watson tipped Lindsay, and that Lindsay then shared with
Giguiere, regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement was nonpublic because, prior to the
Announcement, it was not broadly disseminated generally to the investing public.
84. That a reasonable investor would consider the information Watson tipped to be
material—and that prior to the Announcement, the information was nonpublic—is demonstrated
by, among other things, the dramatic increase in LTEA’s trading volume and share price
immediately following the Announcement.
B. WATSON VIOLATED THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS BY TIPPING
LINDSAY WITH MATERIAL NONPUBLIC INFORMATION
85. By tipping Lindsay with material nonpublic information regarding LTEA’s
impending Announcement, Watson breached the duty he owed LTEA and its shareholders as a
corporate insider and controlling shareholder and as a signatory to the Confidentiality Agreement.
86. Watson obtained a personal benefit from tipping Lindsay, including a pecuniary gain
or a reputational benefit that will translate into future earnings.  For example, Lindsay had located
and was liaising with a promotor for LTEA securities at Watson’s request.  Watson also obtained a
personal benefit by making a gift of confidential information to his friend Lindsay.
87. Watson knew, consciously avoided knowing, or was reckless in not knowing that the
information regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement that he tipped to Lindsay was material
and nonpublic. Indeed, it was Watson who had such a powerful sway over LTEA that he was able
to execute his plan to cause the company to change its entire business line from soft drink
production to blockchain technology, and he appreciated the magnitude of such a change.
88. Watson also knew, consciously avoided knowing, or was reckless in not knowing that
trading in LTEA’s securities would result from his disclosure of information regarding LTEA’s
impending Announcement.
15

C. LINDSAY VIOLATED THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS BY
SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH GIGUIERE
89. Lindsay knew, consciously avoided knowing, was reckless in not knowing, or should
have known that the information had been divulged to him in breach of a duty of trust and
confidence for personal benefit   Lindsay was aware of Watson’s role at LTEA, and was of course
aware of his business and social relationship with Watson. Lindsay’s communications with Giguiere
also show Lindsay’s awareness of the information’s confidential nature.
90. Lindsay disclosed information regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement to
Giguiere, despite Lindsay knowing, consciously avoiding knowing, or being reckless in not knowing
that this information was material and nonpublic.  Lindsay’s communications with Watson and
Giguiere show Lindsay’s awareness of the information’s sensitive nature.
D. GIGUIERE VIOLATED THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS BY
TRADING ON THE BASIS OF MATERIAL NONPUBLIC
INFORMATION
91. Giguiere knew, consciously avoided knowing, was reckless in not knowing, or should
have known that the information he received had been divulged in breach of a duty of trust and
confidence for personal benefit.  Giguiere understood from Lindsay that the identity of the source
of the information was Watson, that Watson was an LTEA corporate insider, and the nature of
Lindsay’s and Watson’s professional and personal relationship.  Indeed, Giguiere was aware that
Watson and Lindsay were business associates, and specifically that Lindsay wanted to help Watson
achieve pecuniary and reputational benefits through Giguiere’s help in promoting LTEA on TMS,
Giguiere’s stock promotion website, and through Giguiere’s connections in the microcap industry.
Giguiere also knew that Watson and Lindsay were friends.
92. Giguiere traded on the basis of the information regarding LTEA’s impending
Announcement, despite knowing, consciously avoiding knowing, or being reckless in not knowing
that this information was material and nonpublic.  Among other things, the size, nature, and timing
16

of Giguiere’s purchases of LTEA’s shares after Lindsay disclosed to him information about the
impending Announcement demonstrate Giguiere’s awareness of that information’s material and
nonpublic nature.
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
Violations of Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 Thereunder
(All Defendants)
93. The Commission re-alleges and incorporates by reference here the allegations in
paragraphs 1 through 92.
94. Defendants, directly or indirectly, singly or in concert, in connection with the
purchase or sale of securities and by the use of means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, or
the mails, or the facilities of a national securities exchange, knowingly or recklessly have (i) employed
one or more devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud, (ii) made one or more untrue statements of a
material fact or omitted to state one or more material facts necessary in order to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and/or
(iii) engaged in one or more acts, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate
as a fraud or deceit upon other persons.
95. By reason of the foregoing, Defendants, directly or indirectly, singly or in concert,
have violated and, unless enjoined, will again violate Exchange Act Section 10(b) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)]
and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5].
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that the Court enter a Final
Judgment:
I.
Permanently enjoining Defendants and their agents, servants, employees and attorneys and
all persons in active concert or participation with any of them from violating, directly or indirectly,
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Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rules 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R.
§ 240.10b-5 ].
II.
Ordering Defendants to disgorge all ill-gotten gains they received directly or indirectly, with
pre-judgment interest thereon, pursuant to Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) of the Exchange Act [15
U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(5), 78u(d)(7)];
III.
Ordering Defendants to pay civil monetary penalties under Section 21A of the Exchange
Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u-1 ];
IV.
Permanently prohibiting Watson from serving as an officer or director of any company that
has a class of securities registered under Exchange Act Section 12 [15 U.S.C. § 78l] or that is
required to file reports under Exchange Act Section 15(d) [15 U.S.C. § 78o(d)], pursuant to
Exchange Act Section 21(d)(2) [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(2)]; and
V.
Granting any other and further relief this Court may deem just and proper.
Dated: New York, New York
July 9,   2021
/s/ Richard R. Best__________
RICHARD R. BEST
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Sanjay Wadhwa
Sheldon L. Pollock
John O. Enright
Mark R. Sylvester
Lindsay S. Moilanen
Attorneys for Plaintiff
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
New York Regional Office
Brookfield Place
18

200 Vesey Street, Suite400
(212) 336-0159 (S ylvester)
[email protected]
New York, New York 10281-1022
19

Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 1 of 19 

RICHARD R. BEST 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR 
Sanjay Wadhwa 
Sheldon L. Pollock 
John O. Enright 
Mark R. Sylvester 
Lindsay S. Moilanen 
Attorneys for Plaintiff 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
New York Regional Office 
Brookfield Place 
200 Vesey Street, Suite 400 
New York, New York 10281-1022 
(212) 336-0159 (Sylvester) 
[email protected] 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 
COMMISSION, 

Plaintiff, 

-against-

ERIC J. WATSON, 
OLIVER-BARRET LINDSAY, and 
GANNON GIGUIERE, 

Defendants. 

COMPLAINT 

21 Civ. _____ ( ) 

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED 

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

Defendants Eric J. Watson (“Watson”), Oliver-Barret Lindsay (“Lindsay”), and Gannon Giguiere 

(“Giguiere”) (collectively, “Defendants”), alleges as follows: 

SUMMARY 

1. This matter involves an insider trading scheme conducted in late 2017, in which 

Watson, a corporate insider and the controlling shareholder of Long Island Iced Tea Corp. (now 

known as Long Blockchain Corp.) (hereinafter, “LTEA”), tipped his friend, business associate, and 

mailto:[email protected]


  

     

    

       

     

    

     

 

     

 

  

     

 

      

         

     

      

      

 

      

      

         

    

      

      

Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 2 of 19 

broker, Lindsay, with material nonpublic information regarding LTEA’s impending announcement 

that it was significantly changing its business from soft drink manufacture to blockchain technology 

(the “Announcement”). At the time, LTEA’s shares were publicly traded on NASDAQ. 

2. On December 20, 2017, Lindsay conveyed this material nonpublic information 

regarding the impending Announcement to Giguiere, his friend and co-conspirator in prior market 

manipulation schemes. Within hours of receiving this confidential information, Giguiere purchased 

35,000 LTEA shares. 

3. On the following day, December 21, 2017, LTEA issued the Announcement, stating 

that LTEA was “shifting its primary corporate focus towards the exploration of and investment in 

opportunities that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology” compared to “the ready-to-drink 

segment of the beverage industry,” as well as changing its name to “Long Blockchain Corp.” in 

place of “Long Island Iced Tea Corp.” 

4. As a result of the Announcement, the company’s stock price and trading volume 

skyrocketed, with the intraday stock price spiking 388%, on increased trading volume of 1,000%, 

before closing at $6.91, an increase of more than 180% from the prior day’s closing price.  

5. In less than two hours following the Announcement, Giguiere sold the 35,000 LTEA 

shares he had purchased the day before, realizing $162,500 in illicit profits. 

VIOLATIONS 

6. By virtue of the foregoing conduct and as alleged further herein, Defendants 

Watson, Lindsay, and Giguiere have violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

(“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5]. 

7. Unless Defendants are restrained and enjoined, they will engage in the acts, practices, 

transactions, and courses of business set forth in this Complaint or in acts, practices, transactions, 

and courses of business of similar type and object. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 3 of 19 

NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND RELIEF SOUGHT 

8. The Commission brings this action pursuant to the authority conferred upon it by 

Sections 21(d) and 21A of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d), 78u-1(a)]. 

9. The Commission seeks a final judgment: (a) permanently enjoining Defendants from 

violating Section 10(b) of  the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, pursuant to Section 21(d) 

of  the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)]; (b) ordering Defendants to disgorge their ill-gotten gains 

with prejudgment interest thereon, pursuant to Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) of the Exchange Act 

[15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(5), 78u(d)(7)]; (c) ordering Defendants to pay civil money penalties pursuant to 

Section 21A of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u-1]; and (d) permanently prohibiting Watson from 

serving as an officer or director of any company that has a class of securities registered under 

Exchange Act Section 12 [15 U.S.C. § 78l] or that is required to file reports under Exchange Act 

Section 15(d) [15 U.S.C. § 78o(d)], pursuant to Exchange Act Section 21(d)(2) [15 U.S.C. 

§ 78u(d)(2)]; and (e) ordering any other and further relief the Court may deem just and proper. 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE 

10. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Section 27 of the Exchange 

Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa]. 

11. Defendants, directly and indirectly, have made use of the means or instrumentalities 

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

courses of business alleged herein. 

12. Venue lies in this District under Section 27 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa]. 

Certain of  the acts, practices, transactions, and courses of  business alleged in this Complaint 

occurred within this District, including that at all relevant times, LTEA shares traded on NASDAQ, 

which is located in New York, New York. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 4 of 19 

DEFENDANTS 

13. Watson, age 60, is a New Zealand citizen and believed to be a resident of London, 

United Kingdom.  Watson has never been registered with the Commission and holds no securities 

licenses. At all relevant times, Watson controlled over 30% of the shares of LTEA, personally and 

through companies he controlled.  

14. In 2001, the Commission issued settled administrative proceedings against Watson 

for violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder in connection with his 

insider trading in McCollam Printers, Ltd., a publicly traded New Zealand-based issuer.1 

15. Lindsay, age 44, is a Canadian citizen and resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, 

Canada.  Lindsay has never been registered with the Commission and he holds no U.S. securities 

licenses. At all relevant times, Lindsay was the principal of CMGT Capital Management, a Cayman 

Islands-exempt broker-dealer registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. 

16. On July 16, 2018, Lindsay was charged, along with Giguiere, by the Commission 

with violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder for his role in a 

manipulative trading scheme.2 See SEC v. Giguiere, et al., No. 18-cv-01530 (S.D. Cal.) (“SEC v. 

Giguiere”).  At the same time, Lindsay was criminally charged for the same conduct. See United States 

v. Giguiere, et al., No. 18-cr-03071 (S.D. Cal.) (“U.S. v. Giguiere”).  On July 23, 2019, Lindsay pleaded 

guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Both cases are currently pending in the 

United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  

1 See Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, 
and Imposing a Cease-and-Desist Order, Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Release No. 44934 (Oct. 15, 2001), available 
at https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/34-44934.htm. 
2 Penny stocks, also known as “microcaps,” are not listed on a national securities exchange such as NASDAQ; they 
instead trade over the counter at prices below $5 and are typically issued by companies with little to no revenue or assets. 

4 

https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/34-44934.htm


  

    

     

      

   

   

    

       

        

   

 

     

      

     

   

    

       

      

      

  

      

  

                                                
      

    
   

Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 5 of 19 

17. Giguiere, age 47, resides in Newport Coast, California.  Giguiere has never been 

registered with the Commission and he holds no securities licenses. At all relevant times, Giguiere 

owned and operated TheMoneyStreet.com (“TMS”), a stock promotion website. 

18. On July 16, 2018, Giguiere was charged, along with Lindsay, by the Commission 

with violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder for his role in two 

fraudulent schemes. See SEC v. Giguiere. At the same time, he was charged criminally for the same 

conduct. See U.S. v. Giguiere. On August 1, 2019, Giguiere pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy 

to commit securities fraud. Both cases are currently pending in the United States District Court for 

the Southern District of California.  

OTHER RELEVANT INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES 

19. LTEA is a Delaware corporation with a principal place of business in Farmingdale, 

New York. Until the Commission revoked its registration on February 19, 2021, LTEA was a 

reporting company with a class of securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.3 

LTEA’s common stock traded on NASDAQ from approximately July 2016 to April 2018, when 

NASDAQ delisted LTEA for making “a series of public statements designed to mislead investors 

and to take advantage of the general investor interest in bitcoin and blockchain technology.” 

20. Company A is a New Zealand company with a principal place of business in 

London, England. In late 2017, according to materials prepared by Company A, it was “a holding 

company with interests in various financial services” including a foreign exchange brokerage, and it 

was purportedly “developing proprietary Blockchain technology” and “developing . . . a Blockchain 

enabled platform.” 

3 See Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, 
and Revoking Registration of Securities, Exchange Act Release No. 91174 (Feb. 19, 2021), available at 
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2021/34-91174.pdf. 

5 

https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2021/34-91174.pdf
https://TheMoneyStreet.com


  

       

   

   

        

       

   

 

  

        

    

     

     

     

   

     

      

  

    

 

    

    

     

     

Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 6 of 19 

21. Individual A, age 55, resides in Carmel, California. At all relevant times, he was a 

microcap stock promoter who participated and, while acting as a confidential source to law 

enforcement, purported to participate in stock promotion schemes with Lindsay and Giguiere. 

22. Individual B, age 25, resides in New York, New York. He is Watson’s son. 

Individual B has never been registered with the Commission and holds no securities licenses. At all 

relevant times, he was a consultant for Company A. 

FACTS 

I. DEFENDANTS’ RELATIONSHIP PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT 

23. Prior to, and concurrent with, the insider trading scheme alleged herein, Giguiere and 

Lindsay engaged in other fraudulent schemes together.  

24. As alleged in the Commission’s complaint in SEC v. Giguiere, Giguiere and Lindsay 

engaged together in “pump-and-dump” schemes to defraud investors in microcap securities. 

25. Specifically, in the fall of 2017, Giguiere and Lindsay received shares of Kelvin 

Medical, Inc. (“KVMD”), engaged in matched trades to increase the price of KVMD shares from 

$0.00 to $1.37, and caused KVMD to issue press releases in order to further increase the price of 

shares, intending to quickly sell their shares into the market. 

26. In and around 2017, Lindsay’s business model included organizing shell companies, 

finding suitable public companies for reverse mergers, executing reverse mergers with the shell 

companies, providing financing, and working with management on corporate development and 

news releases and other promotional efforts. 

27. Lindsay coordinated the new company’s press releases and, at the same time, 

accumulated the company’s stock and arranged for stock promotion. Through this process, Lindsay 

profited from the sale of stock, frequently at the expense of unsuspecting retail investors. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 7 of 19 

28. Lindsay traveled frequently to manage and grow relationships in connection with 

these efforts. 

29. At all relevant times, Watson was a friend and business associate, and also a 

brokerage client, of Lindsay’s. 

30. In November 2017, shortly before the trading at issue here, Lindsay and Watson met 

in Miami in person for dinner. 

31. At around this time, Lindsay was an LTEA shareholder. 

32. Throughout late 2017, Lindsay and Watson exchanged frequent messages and calls, 

using an encrypted call and messaging application. Among other things, they discussed Watson’s 

plans for LTEA; the possibility of Company A, a company to which Watson had several ties, 

completing an initial public offering; and the promotion of another microcap issuer in which 

Watson held a controlling interest. 

33. In or about September 2017, Watson sought to use Lindsay’s connections within the 

microcap industry to promote LTEA. 

34. Shortly thereafter, Lindsay introduced Watson to Giguiere for the purpose of 

promoting LTEA on TMS.  

35. Giguiere used the TMS website for stock promotion, including in connection with 

“pump and dump” schemes. 

36. Giguiere agreed to promote LTEA through TMS but did very little promotion 

because he was instructed to pause any promotional efforts during the period that LTEA was 

considering and then preparing for its purported shift to blockchain technology. 

37. Lindsay served as the conduit for communication between Watson and Giguiere. 

38. Giguiere was aware of Watson’s and Lindsay’s relationship, and understood Watson 

was an LTEA corporate insider.  For example, on December 4, 2017, Lindsay told Giguiere, “Spoke 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 8 of 19 

to Eric [Watson] this morning about canceling the spending on LTEA b/c company is in a quiet 

period right now b/c of S-1. Eric [Watson] put the deal together; he’s a client of mine.” 

39. Lindsay, Giguiere, and Individual A exchanged numerous phone calls and text 

messages during the period of October 2017 through December 2017.  These three had a group text 

thread on an encrypted messaging application, labeled “Daily Updates,” in which they discussed 

their daily trading plans in various stocks. They also frequently discussed Lindsay’s conversations 

with Watson regarding LTEA. They used the encrypted messaging application to conceal their 

messages from governmental authorities. 

II. WATSON PLANNED AND EXECUTED LTEA’S PURPORTED “PIVOT” TO 
BLOCKCHAIN 

40. LTEA was formed in May 2015 through a merger between Long Island Brand 

Beverages and Cullen Agricultural Corp., a company owned and controlled by Watson. 

41. Prior to the Announcement, LTEA was principally engaged in the production and 

distribution of premium, non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverages. 

42. In September 2017, Watson controlled more than 30% of LTEA’s common stock. 

43. At that time, Watson suggested to the Chairman of LTEA’s Board of Directors that 

the company shift its business from soft drink production to any of a number of possible other 

businesses, including blockchain-related ventures. 

44. Watson continued his pitch and, by December 2017, he had convinced the company 

to “pivot” from soft drink manufacture to blockchain-related business. 

45. On December 4, 2017, LTEA met with Company A, which, according to Watson, 

was seeking to enter the blockchain space.  Watson introduced Company A to LTEA. 

46. Watson had a number of ties to Company A at this time.  Company A had been 

incorporated in New Zealand by a friend of Watson a few months earlier, and Individual B, 

Watson’s son, was a consultant for Company A. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 9 of 19 

47. On December 5, 2017, Company A and LTEA entered into a confidentiality 

agreement. This agreement included a provision forbidding Company A from disclosing any 

confidential information without the written consent of LTEA and forbidding Company A from 

engaging in securities transactions involving the securities of LTEA while in possession of 

confidential information.  As of at least December 9, 2017, Watson was aware of the existence of 

this agreement between Company A and LTEA. 

48. On December 7, 2017, Individual B sent a written proposal outlining the steps 

LTEA should take to “[r]efocus . . . in the blockchain technology/digital asset markets” to two 

LTEA board members, Watson, and others. 

49. On the same day, LTEA purchased the domain name www.longblockchain.com. 

50. On December 11, 2017, LTEA entered into a consulting agreement with an 

individual to assist in evaluating blockchain opportunities. 

51. On December 18, 2017, LTEA and Watson entered into a Confidentiality 

Agreement governing Watson’s treatment of LTEA’s confidential information, including “all 

information whether of a technical, business or other nature . . . that is or may be disclosed” by 

LTEA to Watson, including “all information concerning . . . product launches or offerings.” Per 

this Confidentiality Agreement, Watson was prohibited from disclosing any of LTEA’s information 

without LTEA’s prior written consent. He was further prohibited from engaging in “any transaction 

involving the securities of [LTEA] while in possession of any Confidential Information.” 

52. On December 19, 2017, Watson and Individual B, Watson’s son, met with LTEA to 

discuss Individual B’s purported expertise in blockchain. On the same day, LTEA’s Board of 

Directors approved changing the company’s name to Long Blockchain Corp. 

53. On December 21, 2017, LTEA issued the Announcement, calling its shift to 

blockchain technology a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.” 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 10 of 19 

III. WATSON OWED A DUTY TO LTEA AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO 
REFRAIN FROM USING LTEA’S INFORMATION FOR HIS PERSONAL 
BENEFIT 

54. As a corporate insider and the controlling shareholder of LTEA, Watson had a 

fiduciary and other relationship of trust and confidence with LTEA and its shareholders that 

obligated him not to disclose or trade on LTEA’s information for his personal benefit. 

55. In addition, Watson had a duty of trust and confidence not to disclose or trade on 

LTEA’s information for his personal benefit based on his Confidentiality Agreement with LTEA, 

which forbade him from disclosing any of LTEA’s confidential information without LTEA’s prior 

written consent and from engaging in transactions involving LTEA’s securities when in possession 

of LTEA’s confidential information. 

IV. WATSON TIPPED LINDSAY WITH MATERIAL NONPUBLIC 
INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPENDING ANNOUNCEMENT, AND 
LINDSAY CONVEYED THIS INFORMATION TO GIGUIERE PRIOR TO THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT 

56. Throughout the events leading up to the Announcement, Defendants continuously 

communicated about LTEA and its business prospects, including Watson’s ongoing and ultimately 

successful efforts to convince LTEA’s management to shift its business from soft drink 

manufacturing to blockchain technology. 

57. On December 4, 2017, the same day that LTEA met with Company A, the New 

Zealand company purportedly seeking to enter the blockchain space, Lindsay told Giguiere and 

Individual A that he had been “trying to reach the guy behind the deal on Long Island Iced Tea all 

weekend, and he finally called me back this morning.”  Lindsay later specified that the individual he 

spoke to that morning who was the source of Lindsay’s information about LTEA was “Eric” 

[Watson], and again described Watson as “the guy who put the deal together.” 

58. On the same day, Lindsay told Giguiere and Individual A that Watson told Lindsay 

that “[t]hey may announce an agreement with a blockchain deal.” Lindsay, Giguiere, and Individual 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 11 of 19 

A further discussed that, in light of this possible impending announcement, any “spend” on TMS’s 

promotion of LTEA should be paused. 

59. On December 5, 2017, Lindsay called Individual A and informed him that LTEA 

planned to go through with the blockchain deal and planned to make an announcement to that 

effect the following week. Individual A told Lindsay that he would tell Giguiere that LTEA had 

decided to pursue the deal. 

60. Later that day, Individual A sent a message to Giguiere using an encrypted messaging 

application, copying Lindsay, and stating:  “LTEA is going to move fed [sic] with block chain deal.” 

61. The next day, Lindsay, Giguiere, and Individual A chatted via an encrypted 

messaging application about LTEA’s strategy and focus on blockchain. 

62. On December 7, 2017, the same day that LTEA purchased a domain name reflecting 

its planned name change to “Long Blockchain Corp.,” Lindsay sent to Giguiere, via encrypted email, 

a PowerPoint presentation regarding Company A. 

63. On December 11, 2017, the same day that LTEA entered into a consulting 

agreement to evaluate blockchain opportunities, Lindsay called Individual A and reported that 

Lindsay had spoken to Watson that day and requested an LTEA shareholder list, that Lindsay was 

considering “buy[ing] some more stock while it’s down here, while were are waiting for this other 

stuff to materialize,” and that Watson was continuing to work with the company to get the 

blockchain deal to “materialize.” 

64. Lindsay explained to Individual A that he had requested the LTEA shareholder list 

because it would prove Watson had control over the LTEA, which would make Lindsay more 

confident about the merits of purchasing additional LTEA shares.  Later in the call, Lindsay 

confirmed that he had received the shareholder list from Watson. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 12 of 19 

65. On December 16, 2017, Watson sent Lindsay a slide deck called “[Company A] 

Blockchain Strategy Deck [Initials of Individual B]” via an encrypted messaging application. Lindsay 

forwarded this slide deck to an acquaintance who was a microcap stock promoter unaffiliated with 

Giguiere or TMS. 

66. The following day, Watson messaged Lindsay, expressing his confidence that LTEA 

was going forward with his proposed “pivot” to blockchain technology, stating that “Tea WILL be 

BC.” 

67. On December 18, 2017, Watson entered into the Confidentiality Agreement, which, 

among other things, prohibited him from sharing any information he acquired from LTEA without 

LTEA’s prior written consent.  Watson never received any written consent from LTEA to share its 

information with Lindsay. 

68. Starting the next day, December 19, 2017, Watson began sharing various drafts of 

the Announcement with Lindsay. 

69. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on December 19, 2017, Watson sent to Lindsay via 

encrypted messaging application a draft of the Announcement entitled (with brackets in original), 

“Long Island Iced Tea Corp. Changing Name to [Long BlockChain Corp.], Shifts Strategic 

Direction Towards Opportunities in Blockchain Technologies.”  This draft Announcement 

explained that that “[t]he primary focus of the Company will now be the exploration of and 

investment into opportunities that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology.” 

70. Just before midnight on December 19, 2017, Watson sent to Lindsay, via encrypted 

messaging application, a revised draft version of the Announcement. A few hours later, Lindsay 

forwarded, via encrypted messaging application, this draft version to a colleague with whom he 

worked. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 13 of 19 

71. On the morning of the following day, December 20, 2017, Individual B, Watson’s 

son, sent the final draft version of the Announcement to Watson.  This version of the 

Announcement was the one ultimately issued the next day. 

72. Watson thereafter sent the final version of the Announcement to Lindsay via 

encrypted messaging application, and wrote “Smiling?” 

73. Lindsay replied to Watson:  “Laughing . . . good job getting that done.”  Watson then 

replied:  “When the market sees the [Company A] deal we may have a $50 stock.”  LTEA’s closing 

price on that day was $2.44. 

74. After receiving the final version of the Announcement from Watson on December 

20, 2017, Lindsay sent it via encrypted messaging application to Giguiere and Individual A. By this 

time, Lindsay had been telling Giguiere and Individual A for weeks that LTEA would announce its 

“pivot” to the blockchain business and expected that the recipients of this material nonpublic 

information would use it to trade with the expectation that the Announcement would cause a spike 

in LTEA’s share price. 

75. On the same day, Lindsay sent a message via encrypted messaging application to 

approximately six individuals that “LTEA is coming back.” 

76. Giguiere read the Announcement he received from Lindsay, commenting to Lindsay 

and Individual A that they would need to be “mindful” regarding TMS’s promotion of LTEA 

because “the regulators are scrutinizing Block an[d] Crypto deals that are being promoted right 

now.” 

77. Giguiere then asked Lindsay whether LTEA was making the Announcement that 

day, and Lindsay replied:  “Should be now . . . Or post market . . . I guess we will know shortly.” A 

couple of hours later, Lindsay updated Giguiere on the timing of the Announcement, stating:  “He’s 

working on releasing . . . With legal.” 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 14 of 19 

78. Within hours of receiving Lindsay’s message, Giguiere placed two market orders to 

buy a total of 35,000 LTEA shares, which were executed at an average cost of $2.42 per share. 

V. LTEA MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND GIGUIERE REAPED ILLEGAL 
PROFITS 

79. On December 21, 2017, at 8:32 am, LTEA issued the Announcement, stating that it 

was “shifting its primary corporate focus toward the exploration of and investment in opportunities 

that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology,” and that, in connection with this purported 

strategic shift, LTEA was changing its name to Long Blockchain Corp. 

80. As a result of the Announcement, LTEA’s trading volume and share price 

skyrocketed.  LTEA’s trading volume that day was over 15 million shares, whereas its historical 

average volume was about 125,000 shares. LTEA’s closing price per share that day was $6.91, an 

increase of $4.47, or approximately 183%, from the previous day’s closing price of $2.44. 

81. Less than two hours after the Announcement, Giguiere sold the 35,000 shares of 

LTEA he had purchased the previous day, realizing $162,500 in illicit profits. On the same day, 

Lindsay’s business associate asked Lindsay via an encrypted chat message why Lindsay did not tell 

him to buy LTEA prior to the Announcement.  Lindsay replied: “I think I told everyone.” 

VI. WATSON, LINDSAY, AND GIGUIERE VIOLATED THE FEDERAL 
SECURITIES LAWS 

A. THE INFORMATION REGARDING LTEA’S IMPENDING 
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MATERIAL AND NONPUBLIC 

82. The information that Watson tipped Lindsay, and that Lindsay then shared with 

Giguiere, regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement was material because there is a substantial 

likelihood a reasonable investor would consider the information important in deciding whether to 

purchase or sell LTEA securities. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 15 of 19 

83. The information that Watson tipped Lindsay, and that Lindsay then shared with 

Giguiere, regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement was nonpublic because, prior to the 

Announcement, it was not broadly disseminated generally to the investing public. 

84. That a reasonable investor would consider the information Watson tipped to be 

material—and that prior to the Announcement, the information was nonpublic—is demonstrated 

by, among other things, the dramatic increase in LTEA’s trading volume and share price 

immediately following the Announcement. 

B. WATSON VIOLATED THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS BY TIPPING 
LINDSAY WITH MATERIAL NONPUBLIC INFORMATION 

85. By tipping Lindsay with material nonpublic information regarding LTEA’s 

impending Announcement, Watson breached the duty he owed LTEA and its shareholders as a 

corporate insider and controlling shareholder and as a signatory to the Confidentiality Agreement. 

86. Watson obtained a personal benefit from tipping Lindsay, including a pecuniary gain 

or a reputational benefit that will translate into future earnings.  For example, Lindsay had located 

and was liaising with a promotor for LTEA securities at Watson’s request.  Watson also obtained a 

personal benefit by making a gift of confidential information to his friend Lindsay. 

87. Watson knew, consciously avoided knowing, or was reckless in not knowing that the 

information regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement that he tipped to Lindsay was material 

and nonpublic. Indeed, it was Watson who had such a powerful sway over LTEA that he was able 

to execute his plan to cause the company to change its entire business line from soft drink 

production to blockchain technology, and he appreciated the magnitude of such a change. 

88. Watson also knew, consciously avoided knowing, or was reckless in not knowing that 

trading in LTEA’s securities would result from his disclosure of information regarding LTEA’s 

impending Announcement. 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 16 of 19 

C. LINDSAY VIOLATED THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS BY 
SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH GIGUIERE 

89. Lindsay knew, consciously avoided knowing, was reckless in not knowing, or should 

have known that the information had been divulged to him in breach of a duty of trust and 

confidence for personal benefit Lindsay was aware of Watson’s role at LTEA, and was of course 

aware of his business and social relationship with Watson. Lindsay’s communications with Giguiere 

also show Lindsay’s awareness of the information’s confidential nature. 

90. Lindsay disclosed information regarding LTEA’s impending Announcement to 

Giguiere, despite Lindsay knowing, consciously avoiding knowing, or being reckless in not knowing 

that this information was material and nonpublic.  Lindsay’s communications with Watson and 

Giguiere show Lindsay’s awareness of the information’s sensitive nature. 

D. GIGUIERE VIOLATED THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS BY 
TRADING ON THE BASIS OF MATERIAL NONPUBLIC 
INFORMATION 

91. Giguiere knew, consciously avoided knowing, was reckless in not knowing, or should 

have known that the information he received had been divulged in breach of a duty of trust and 

confidence for personal benefit. Giguiere understood from Lindsay that the identity of the source 

of the information was Watson, that Watson was an LTEA corporate insider, and the nature of 

Lindsay’s and Watson’s professional and personal relationship.  Indeed, Giguiere was aware that 

Watson and Lindsay were business associates, and specifically that Lindsay wanted to help Watson 

achieve pecuniary and reputational benefits through Giguiere’s help in promoting LTEA on TMS, 

Giguiere’s stock promotion website, and through Giguiere’s connections in the microcap industry.  

Giguiere also knew that Watson and Lindsay were friends. 

92. Giguiere traded on the basis of the information regarding LTEA’s impending 

Announcement, despite knowing, consciously avoiding knowing, or being reckless in not knowing 

that this information was material and nonpublic.  Among other things, the size, nature, and timing 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 17 of 19 

of Giguiere’s purchases of LTEA’s shares after Lindsay disclosed to him information about the 

impending Announcement demonstrate Giguiere’s awareness of that information’s material and 

nonpublic nature. 

CLAIM FOR RELIEF 
Violations of Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 Thereunder 

(All Defendants) 

93. The Commission re-alleges and incorporates by reference here the allegations in 

paragraphs 1 through 92. 

94. Defendants, directly or indirectly, singly or in concert, in connection with the 

purchase or sale of securities and by the use of means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, or 

the mails, or the facilities of a national securities exchange, knowingly or recklessly have (i) employed 

one or more devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud, (ii) made one or more untrue statements of a 

material fact or omitted to state one or more material facts necessary in order to make the 

statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and/or 

(iii) engaged in one or more acts, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate 

as a fraud or deceit upon other persons. 

95. By reason of the foregoing, Defendants, directly or indirectly, singly or in concert, 

have violated and, unless enjoined, will again violate Exchange Act Section 10(b) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] 

and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5]. 

PRAYER FOR RELIEF 

WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that the Court enter a Final 

Judgment: 

I. 

Permanently enjoining Defendants and their agents, servants, employees and attorneys and 

all persons in active concert or participation with any of them from violating, directly or indirectly, 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 18 of 19 

Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Rules 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. 

§ 240.10b-5]. 

II. 

Ordering Defendants to disgorge all ill-gotten gains they received directly or indirectly, with 

pre-judgment interest thereon, pursuant to Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) of the Exchange Act [15 

U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(5), 78u(d)(7)]; 

III. 

Ordering Defendants to pay civil monetary penalties under Section 21A of the Exchange 

Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u-1]; 

IV. 

Permanently prohibiting Watson from serving as an officer or director of any company that 

has a class of securities registered under Exchange Act Section 12 [15 U.S.C. § 78l] or that is 

required to file reports under Exchange Act Section 15(d) [15 U.S.C. § 78o(d)], pursuant to 

Exchange Act Section 21(d)(2) [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(2)]; and 

V. 

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

Dated: New York, New York 
July 9, 2021 

/s/ Richard R. Best__________ 
RICHARD R. BEST 
REGIONAL DIRECTOR 
Sanjay Wadhwa 
Sheldon L. Pollock 
John O. Enright 
Mark R. Sylvester 
Lindsay S. Moilanen 
Attorneys for Plaintiff 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
New York Regional Office 
Brookfield Place 

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Case 1:21-cv-05923 Document 1 Filed 07/09/21 Page 19 of 19 

200 Vesey Street, Suite 400 

(212) 336-0159 (Sylvester) 
[email protected] 

New York, New York 10281-1022 

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mailto:[email protected]