SEC v. David A. Spargo; CannaCloud, Inc.; and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC, No. 2:25-cv-01043, District of Arizona (Apr. 29, 2025) — Complaint
raw: perpetrated by defendant David A. Spargo (“Spargo”) through two defendant
perpetrated by defendant David A. Spargo (“Spargo”) through two defendant, No. 2:25-cv-01043 (Apr. 29, 2025)
The SEC filed a civil enforcement action against David A. Spargo and his entities for a fraudulent securities offering that misappropriated $1.5 million of investor funds for personal use.
David A. Spargo, CannaCloud, Inc., and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC are charged with violating the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act of 1934. Between February and December 2021, Spargo raised at least $1.65 million from 33 investors through high-yield notes by misrepresenting the company's valuation and profitability. The SEC alleges Spargo misappropriated approximately $1.5 million of these funds for personal expenses and casino gambling.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against David A. Spargo, CannaCloud, Inc., and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC, alleging a fraudulent securities offering. From February to December 2021, Spargo raised at least $1.65 million from approximately 33 investors by selling high-yield notes that promised a 20 percent annual return. To attract investors, Spargo falsely claimed CannaCloud had a $7.25 billion valuation and a 40 percent net profit margin. In reality, Spargo misappropriated approximately $1.5 million of the raised funds for personal expenses and gambling at casinos. The SEC alleges the defendants violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act. The commission is seeking permanent injunctions, an officer and director bar against Spargo, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil penalties.
Extracted insights
- $7.45B $7.45 billion ≥$1B
- $7.25B $7.25 billion ≥$1B
- $1.65M $1,651,609 $1M–$10M
- $1.65M $1.65 million $1M–$10M
- $1.50M $1.5 million $1M–$10M
- $1.50M $1,500,000 $1M–$10M
- company cannacloud, inc.
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- David a. Spargo perpetrated a fraudulent securities offering through CannaCloud, Inc. and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC
- David a. Spargo raised at least $1.65 million from approximately 33 investors through high-yield notes
- David a. Spargo made false and misleading representations about CannaCloud’s business, financial condition, and ability to pay 20 percent annual returns
- David a. Spargo used investor funds for personal expenses including casino visits and transfers to his wife’s bank account
- David a. Spargo claimed CannaCloud was developing an application for cannabis dispensary inventories and would be sold to a wealthy third-party purchaser
- David a. Spargo provided investors with a presentation showing a 40 percent net profit margin and $7.25 billion valuation for CannaCloud
- Securities And Exchange Commission alleges violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with Rule 10b-5
- CannaCloud, Inc. is defunct with approximately $1.5 million of investor funds misappropriated
- Securities And Exchange Commission seeks issuance of findings of fact and conclusions of law
COMPLAINT 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ALEC JOHNSON (Cal. Bar No. 270960) Email: [email protected] HEATHER C. GORMAN (Cal. Bar No. 258920) Email: [email protected] Attorneys for Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission Katharine E. Zoladz, Regional Director Gary Y. Leung, Associate Regional Director Douglas M. Miller, Regional Trial Counsel 444 S. Flower Street, Suite 900 Los Angeles, California 90071 Telephone: (323) 965-3998 Facsimile: (213) 443-1904 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF ARIZONA Securities and Exchange Commission, Plaintiff, vs. David A. Spargo, CannaCloud, Inc., and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC, Defendants. Case No. COMPLAINT Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) alleges: SUMMARY 1. This civil enforcement action concerns a fraudulent securities offering perpetrated by defendant David A. Spargo (“Spargo”) through two defendant entities that he controlled, CannaCloud, Inc. (“CannaCloud”) and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC (“D.A. Spargo”). From February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo used these entities to raise at least $1.65 million from approximately 33 investors, who invested in high-yield notes that could be converted into CannaCloud stock issued by D.A. Spargo. When convincing investors, Spargo made false and misleading COMPLAINT 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 representations about the true state of CannaCloud’s business, its financial condition, and its ability to pay out the 20 percent annual return promised by the terms of defendants’ high-yield notes. Once investors had transferred their funds for investment, Spargo engaged these entities in a scheme to defraud by using investor funds for his personal use. CannaCloud is now defunct with approximately $1.5 million of its investors’ funds having been misappropriated. 2. Spargo represented to investors that he would use their money to fund CannaCloud’s business, claiming that the company was developing an application that would give marijuana consumers the ability to access inventories of cannabis dispensaries and to purchase cannabis products. Spargo told investors that they would receive a 20 percent annual return on their investment and that they would have the option to obtain equity shares in the company once shares were issued. Spargo provided certain investors with an investor presentation about CannaCloud’s business showing a 40 percent net profit margin for the prior year and a $7.25 billion valuation. 3. In reality, Spargo used little of the funds he raised from investors to develop CannaCloud’s business. Instead, Spargo spent investors’ money at casinos and on personal expenses. He took investor funds via cash withdrawals and transferred investor funds to his wife’s bank account. Meanwhile, Spargo told investors that CannaCloud’s business was doing well and that the company would soon be sold to a wealthy third-party purchaser, benefitting shareholders. Spargo never disclosed to investors that he was using their investments on personal expenses or that there was no money for CannaCloud to pay them their promised returns. 4. By engaging in the conduct described in this Complaint, Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 77(e)(a), 77(e)(c), 77q(a)], and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and COMPLAINT 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5(a)-(c)]. 5. With this complaint, the SEC seeks: (i) the issuance of findings of fact and conclusions of law that defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo committed these securities law violations; (ii) permanent injunctions prohibiting future violations of the federal securities laws by defendants; (iii) a conduct-based injunction against defendant Spargo; (iv) an officer and director bar against defendant Spargo under Section 20(e) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(e)] and Section 21(d)(2) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(2)]; (v) an order requiring defendants to disgorge their ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest in accordance with Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(5) and 78u(d)(7)]; and (vi) an order imposing a civil penalty on defendant Spargo under Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)] and Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)]. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 6. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Sections 20(b), 20(d)(1) and 22(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 77t(b), 77t(d)(1) & 77v(a)], and Sections 21(d)(1), 21(d)(3)(A), 21(e) and 27(a) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1), 78u(d)(3)(A), 78u(e) & 78aa(a)]. 7. Defendants have, directly or indirectly, made use of the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of the mails, or of the facilities of a national securities exchange in connection with the transactions, acts, practices and courses of business alleged in this complaint. 8. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to Section 22(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77v(a)], and Section 27(a) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa(a)], because certain of the transactions, acts, practices, and courses of conduct constituting violations of the federal securities laws occurred within this district. In addition, venue is proper in this district because Spargo resides in this district and CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo conducted business in this district. COMPLAINT 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DEFENDANTS 9. David A. Spargo, age 56, is a resident of Mesa, Arizona. Spargo is the director and co-founder of CannaCloud. Spargo is also the sole member of D.A. Spargo. Spargo is not registered with the SEC in any capacity. 10. CannaCloud, Inc. is a Nevada corporation formed in March 2021, with its principal place of business in Mesa, Arizona. CannaCloud is controlled by defendant David Spargo. CannaCloud is not registered with the SEC in any capacity, nor has it registered any offering of its securities with the SEC. 11. D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC is an Arizona limited liability company formed by Spargo in September 2007, with its principal place of business in Scottsdale. D.A. Spargo is controlled by defendant David Spargo. D.A. Spargo is not registered with the SEC in any capacity, nor has it registered any offering of its securities with the SEC. THE ALLEGATIONS A. CannaCloud’s Purported Business 12. In March 2021, Spargo filed a business license application for CannaCloud with the Nevada Secretary of State. 13. Two weeks later, Spargo filed an application with the Arizona Corporation Commission for CannaCloud to conduct business in Arizona. 14. In both applications, Spargo designated himself as the president, treasurer, and a director of CannaCloud. 15. When formed in March 2021, CannaCloud’s ostensible business was to develop and commercialize a software application that would facilitate the purchase and sale of cannabis products between consumers and marijuana dispensaries. 16. Spargo, who claimed to have expertise and contacts in the cannabis industry, had already begun to raise funds from investors purportedly to build CannaCloud’s business. COMPLAINT 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 B. Defendants’ Fraudulent Securities Offering 1. Convertible note investments offered and sold by CannaCloud 17. The investments offered by defendants were typically short-term notes of three to nine months. These notes offered a 20 percent annual rate of return on the principal amount invested. 18. These investments were documented as convertible notes for shares in CannaCloud. 19. According to the terms of the convertible notes, in exchange for the investor’s transfer of the principal amount to CannaCloud, D.A. Spargo or another Spargo-controlled entity agreed to pay the note purchaser a 20 percent annual interest on the principal amount. 20. In addition, these notes would automatically convert to CannaCloud stock if certain conditions occurred, such as maturity, a financing event, or a change-in-control event. Each note provided a conversion price to calculate the number of CannaCloud shares to be received by the note holder. 2. Defendants’ solicitation of investors 21. Beginning in at least February 2021 and continuing through at least December 2021, Spargo solicited investment in CannaCloud from individual investors. 22. In most cases, Spargo either knew or had met these individual investors, or the investors were the friends or family of people that Spargo knew. 23. When communicating with investors and potential investors about CannaCloud, Spargo provided information about the company by phone, in text messages, or via Whatsapp messages. 24. After Spargo convinced an investor to invest in CannaCloud, the investor transferred their funds to a bank account controlled by Spargo and executed a convertible note for shares in CannaCloud. 25. When soliciting their investment, Spargo explained to investors that if COMPLAINT 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CannaCloud became a publicly traded company, investors could profit considerably by converting their notes into CannaCloud shares. Spargo further represented to investors that even if CannaCloud did not become a public company, he would personally guarantee a 20 percent annual return on their investment. 26. Following their investment, Spargo continued to communicate with investors about CannaCloud’s ongoing business prospects in a positive light, and several investors decided to invest additional funds in CannaCloud on the basis of these further representations by Spargo. 27. In all, from February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo raised at least $1.65 million through CannaCloud convertible note agreements with approximately 33 investors. 3. CannaCloud’s convertible notes are securities 28. Investors in CannaCloud’s convertible notes were primarily motivated by the generation of profits. 29. Because of the representations made by Spargo and the terms of the notes themselves, an investor in CannaCloud’s convertible notes would reasonably have expected to be making an investment. Indeed, CannaCloud investors subjectively believed their notes were investments and that their invested funds would be used to build CannaCloud’s business, such that they would profit if CannaCloud’s business succeeded. 30. No other regulatory scheme significantly reduced CannaCloud investors’ risk of investment such that the enforcement of the federal securities law is unnecessary. 31. Accordingly, the CannaCloud convertible notes that defendants offered and sold to investors were securities within the meaning of the federal securities laws. 32. In addition, each CannaCloud convertible note investor transferred COMPLAINT 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 money to a Spargo-controlled entity with the understanding that their funds would be used to build CannaCloud’s business. Thus the notes constituted an investment of money. 33. Defendants pooled the investor funds they received from CannaCloud convertible note investors in bank accounts controlled by Spargo. 34. Because defendants’ promised return was a percentage of investors’ principal invested, investors were led to believe they would share profits in a manner proportional to the amount of their investment. 35. If CannaCloud succeeded commercially, then defendants and CannaCloud convertible note investors all stood to profit. 36. CannaCloud convertible note investors expected the profits from their investments to be derived solely from CannaCloud’s efforts to develop its business, which was to commercialize and operate an application that gave marijuana consumers the ability to access inventories of cannabis dispensaries and purchase cannabis products. 37. For this separate reason, CannaCloud’s convertible notes are securities within the meaning of the federal securities laws because they are investment contracts. C. Defendants Made False and Misleading Statements When Offering and Selling Securities to CannaCloud Investors 38. First, Spargo made false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors in which he represented that their invested funds would be used to pay for CannaCloud’s business expenses, such as application development costs, platform fees, professional service fees, and the overall commercialization of CannaCloud’s cannabis marketplace application. 39. In truth, defendants spent only a small amount of the investor funds raised on actual development work, making minimal progress in the relevant period to commercialize CannaCloud’s purported cannabis marketplace COMPLAINT 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 application. Accordingly, Spargo’s representations about how investor funds would be used by defendants were false or misleading. 40. Second, Spargo made false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors about certain unnamed, wealthy third-party investors who, according to Spargo, would be making a “billion-dollar purchase” of CannaCloud. 41. When Spargo made these representations about a “billion-dollar” acquisition of CannaCloud to investors and potential investors, there had been no offer to buy the company. Accordingly, Spargo’s representations about a putative buy-out were false or misleading. 42. Third, Spargo made false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors in which he vastly overstated CannaCloud’s valuation. 43. In mid-2021, Spargo emailed investors a company valuation document and an investor presentation. The valuation document stated that CannaCloud was valued at $7.45 billion. 44. The investor presentation contained an overview of CannaCloud’s business, described its technology, and presented its purported leadership and consultancy team. Further the presentation summarized the investment opportunity available to investors and set forth CannaCloud’s operating and revenue models, which included an assertion that CannaCloud had a 40 percent net profit margin in 2020. 45. At the time that defendants provided investors with these valuation and investor presentation materials, CannaCloud did not have the described leadership team in place. 46. At the time that defendants provided investors with these valuation and investor presentation materials, CannaCloud had not developed its claimed cannabis marketplace application. 47. At the time that defendants provided investors with these valuation and investor presentation materials, CannaCloud had never generated any COMPLAINT 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 operating revenue. 48. Accordingly, defendants’ foregoing representations about CannaCloud’s supposed leadership, valuation, and past and projected financial performance were false or misleading. 49. Fourth, Spargo made false or misleading statements to at least one investor claiming that they would be able to withdraw their investment at any time. 50. When Spargo made this representation, CannaCloud had insufficient funds to honor investor redemption requests. 51. Accordingly, Spargo’s representations about the liquidity of an investment in CannaCloud were false or misleading. 52. The false and misleading statements alleged above were communicated by Spargo either orally or via email communications that Spargo had ultimate authority over, including their content and the manner in which they were communicated. 53. In addition, the convertible notes purchased by CannaCloud investors were all counter-signed by Spargo on the issuer’s behalf and were sent by Spargo to investors. 54. Accordingly, Spargo made all of the false and misleading statements alleged above. D. Defendants Engaged in a Scheme to Defraud 1. Misappropriation of investor funds 55. Instead of using the investor funds raised to grow CannaCloud’s claimed business, defendants misappropriated investors’ money. 56. Of the approximately $1,651,609 that defendants took from investors in their securities offering, they misappropriated approximately $1,500,000. 57. Within days of an investor deposit, Spargo often depleted the funds by spending the money at casinos in Las Vegas or Arizona, withdrawing the money at ATMs or paying for personal expenses. COMPLAINT 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 58. Spargo also used investor funds to pay down his personal credit cards, car loans, or luxury hotel account balances. 59. Spargo also used investor money to pay for personal expenses, including purchases at retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, as well as the payment of Spargo’s personal federal taxes. 60. Spargo also transferred investor money to bank accounts controlled by him or his spouse. 61. When misappropriating investor funds for Spargo’s personal use, defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud. 2. Lulling of defrauded investors 62. In time, CannaCloud’s convertible note investors had received neither their promised 20 percent annual return nor their stock in CannaCloud. 63. When certain investors requested their money back, Spargo did not honor those requests. 64. Instead, Spargo made further false and misleading representations about CannaCloud and its business prospects. Specifically, Spargo falsely claimed to these investors that CannaCloud would soon be purchased by an unnamed third- party investor. Spargo claimed that existing CannaCloud convertible note investors stood to profit from that acquisition but only if they continued with their investment in the company. 65. Through this pattern of additional false and misleading lulling statements, Spargo intended to conceal defendants’ ongoing fraud from detection. 66. Defendants’ lulling efforts alleged above were made in furtherance of their scheme to defraud. E. Defendants’ False and Misleading Statements and Scheme to Defraud Were Material 67. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ representations about how their COMPLAINT 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 funds would be used were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that Spargo spent only a de minimis amount of investor funds on development expenses, and instead engaged in a widescale misappropriation of investor funds for his personal use. 68. Any reasonable investor would also consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ representations about CannaCloud’s commercial progress and the status of its business were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that CannaCloud never developed its claimed cannabis marketplace application, generated no operating revenues, and took no meaningful steps to achieve its business goals. 69. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that the business valuation and investor presentation materials defendants provided to investors and potential investors—claiming, among other things, that CannaCloud had been valued at $7.25 billion and had realized a 40 percent net profit margin in FY 2020—were false or misleading. 70. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ representations concerning CannaCloud’s anticipated acquisition by a third-party were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that there had been no offer to buy CannaCloud. 71. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ claims that investors could take their money out of CannaCloud at any time were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that CannaCloud lacked the funds to honor any such redemption requests. F. Defendants Acted with Scienter and Their Conduct was Negligent 72. Spargo knew or was reckless in not knowing that defendants’ COMPLAINT 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 representations to investors and potential investors—concerning the use of their funds, the true state of CannaCloud’s business, the prospect of CannaCloud’s acquisition by a well-financed third-party, the liquidity of their CannaCloud investments, and CannaCloud’s asserted multi-billion valuation and track record of profit—were all false or misleading. 73. Because Spargo controlled the financial accounts receiving investor funds, Spargo knew that defendants were misappropriating investor funds for his personal use. 74. Spargo’s conduct in making the foregoing false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors was unreasonable, and therefore negligent. 75. Spargo’s conduct in directing the misuse of investor funds through his control of the financial accounts receiving investor funds was unreasonable, and therefore negligent. 76. Spargo’s knowledge, intent, and negligence is imputed to defendants CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo because he controlled both entity defendants. G. Defendants’ Fraudulent Scheme Collapses and Investors Sustain a Seven-Figure Investment Loss 77. Contrary to defendants’ representations, CannaCloud has not commercialized its cannabis marketplace application. Further, CannaCloud has not become a publicly-traded company or been sold to a new buyer. 78. Defendants refused the redemption requests from their convertible note investors. With all of the notes having now reached maturity, defendants’ investor victims have sustained pecuniary harm, with approximately $1.5 million of investor funds having been misappropriated. COMPLAINT 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF Fraud in the Offer or Sale of Securities Violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act 79. The SEC realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 78 above. 80. From at least February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo carried out an offering of securities in the form of convertible promissory notes through CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo, entities that he controlled. Defendants raised approximately $1.65 million from approximately 33 convertible note investors through representations concerning CannaCloud’s business and its future prospects. Defendants misrepresented to investors CannaCloud’s financial performance in 2020, the company’s valuation, the liquidity of their investments in CannaCloud, the prospect of the company’s acquisition by a third-party, and how defendants would use investor funds to further CannaCloud’s business operations. These representations were materially false or misleading as CannaCloud engaged in no meaningful operations and generated no revenue. Instead, defendants engaged in a broad misappropriation of investor funds for Spargo’s personal use. 81. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, directly or indirectly, in the offer or sale of securities, and by the use of means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails directly or indirectly: (a) employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud; (b) obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material fact or by omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (c) engaged in transactions, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. 82. Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, with scienter, COMPLAINT 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud; with scienter or negligence, obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material fact or by omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and, with scienter or negligence, engaged in transactions, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. 83. CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo acted entirely through Spargo and his knowledge, recklessness, or negligence, which may be imputed to CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo. 84. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo violated, and unless restrained and enjoined will continue to violate, Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 77q(a)(1), 77q(a)(2), & 77q(a)(3). SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF Fraud in Connection with the Purchase and Sale of Securities Violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder 85. The SEC realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 84 above. 86. From at least February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo carried out an offering of securities in the form of convertible promissory notes through CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo, entities that he controlled. Defendants raised approximately $1.65 million from approximately 33 convertible note investors through representations concerning CannaCloud’s business and its future prospects. Defendants misrepresented to investors CannaCloud’s financial performance in 2020, the company’s valuation, the liquidity of their investments in CannaCloud, the prospect of the company’s acquisition by a third-party, and how defendants would use investor funds to further CannaCloud’s business operations. These representations were materially false or misleading as CannaCloud engaged COMPLAINT 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 in no meaningful operations and generated no revenue. Instead, defendants engaged in a broad misappropriation of investor funds for Spargo’s personal use. 87. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of a security, by the use of means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of the mails, or of the facilities of a national securities exchange: (a) employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud; (b) made untrue statements of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (c) engaged in acts, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon other persons. 88. Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, with scienter, employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud; made untrue statements of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and engaged in acts, practices or courses of conduct that operated as a fraud on the investing public by the conduct described in detail above. 89. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo violated, and unless restrained and enjoined will continue to violate, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), and Rules 10b-5(a), 10b-5(b), and 10b-5(c) thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §§ 240.10b-5(a), 240.10b-5(b) & 240.10b-5(c). PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, the SEC respectfully requests that the Court: I. Issue findings of fact and conclusions of law that Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo committed the alleged violations. COMPLAINT 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 II. Issue judgments, in forms consistent with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, permanently enjoining Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, and their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and those persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of the judgment by personal service or otherwise, and each of them, from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. §77q(a)], and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5]. III. Issue an order, pursuant to Section 20(e) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77t(e), and Section 21(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(2), prohibiting Defendant Spargo from acting as an officer or director of any issuer that has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, 12 U.S.C. § 78l, or that is required to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 780(d). IV. Issue judgements, in forms consistent with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, permanently enjoining Defendant Spargo from, directly or indirectly, including but not limited to, through any entity owned or controlled by him, participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security in an unregistered offering, provided, however, that such injunction shall not prevent him from purchasing or selling securities for his own personal account. V. Order Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo to disgorge all funds received from their illegal conduct, together with prejudgment interest thereon, pursuant to Exchange Act Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(3), 78u(d)(5) and 78u(d)(7)]. COMPLAINT 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 VI. Order Defendant Spargo to pay civil penalties under Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)]. VII. Retain jurisdiction of this action in accordance with the principles of equity and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in order to implement and carry out the terms of all orders and decrees that may be entered, or to entertain any suitable application or motion for additional relief within the jurisdiction of this Court. VIII. Grant such other and further relief as this Court may determine to be just and necessary. Dated: March 28, 2025 /s/ Alec Johnson Alec Johnson Heather C. Gorman Attorneys for Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission
COMPLAINT 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ALEC JOHNSON (Cal. Bar No. 270960) Email: [email protected] HEATHER C. GORMAN (Cal. Bar No. 258920) Email: [email protected] Attorneys for Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission Katharine E. Zoladz, Regional Director Gary Y. Leung, Associate Regional Director Douglas M. Miller, Regional Trial Counsel 444 S. Flower Street, Suite 900 Los Angeles, California 90071 Telephone: (323) 965-3998 Facsimile: (213) 443-1904 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF ARIZONA Securities and Exchange Commission, Plaintiff, vs. David A. Spargo, CannaCloud, Inc., and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC, Defendants. Case No. COMPLAINT Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) alleges: SUMMARY 1. This civil enforcement action concerns a fraudulent securities offering perpetrated by defendant David A. Spargo (“Spargo”) through two defendant entities that he controlled, CannaCloud, Inc. (“CannaCloud”) and D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC (“D.A. Spargo”). From February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo used these entities to raise at least $1.65 million from approximately 33 investors, who invested in high-yield notes that could be converted into CannaCloud stock issued by D.A. Spargo. When convincing investors, Spargo made false and misleading Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 1 of 17 COMPLAINT 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 representations about the true state of CannaCloud’s business, its financial condition, and its ability to pay out the 20 percent annual return promised by the terms of defendants’ high-yield notes. Once investors had transferred their funds for investment, Spargo engaged these entities in a scheme to defraud by using investor funds for his personal use. CannaCloud is now defunct with approximately $1.5 million of its investors’ funds having been misappropriated. 2. Spargo represented to investors that he would use their money to fund CannaCloud’s business, claiming that the company was developing an application that would give marijuana consumers the ability to access inventories of cannabis dispensaries and to purchase cannabis products. Spargo told investors that they would receive a 20 percent annual return on their investment and that they would have the option to obtain equity shares in the company once shares were issued. Spargo provided certain investors with an investor presentation about CannaCloud’s business showing a 40 percent net profit margin for the prior year and a $7.25 billion valuation. 3. In reality, Spargo used little of the funds he raised from investors to develop CannaCloud’s business. Instead, Spargo spent investors’ money at casinos and on personal expenses. He took investor funds via cash withdrawals and transferred investor funds to his wife’s bank account. Meanwhile, Spargo told investors that CannaCloud’s business was doing well and that the company would soon be sold to a wealthy third-party purchaser, benefitting shareholders. Spargo never disclosed to investors that he was using their investments on personal expenses or that there was no money for CannaCloud to pay them their promised returns. 4. By engaging in the conduct described in this Complaint, Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) [15 U.S.C. §§ 77(e)(a), 77(e)(c), 77q(a)], and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) [15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)] and Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 2 of 17 COMPLAINT 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5(a)-(c)]. 5. With this complaint, the SEC seeks: (i) the issuance of findings of fact and conclusions of law that defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo committed these securities law violations; (ii) permanent injunctions prohibiting future violations of the federal securities laws by defendants; (iii) a conduct-based injunction against defendant Spargo; (iv) an officer and director bar against defendant Spargo under Section 20(e) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(e)] and Section 21(d)(2) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(2)]; (v) an order requiring defendants to disgorge their ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest in accordance with Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(5) and 78u(d)(7)]; and (vi) an order imposing a civil penalty on defendant Spargo under Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)] and Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)]. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 6. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Sections 20(b), 20(d)(1) and 22(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 77t(b), 77t(d)(1) & 77v(a)], and Sections 21(d)(1), 21(d)(3)(A), 21(e) and 27(a) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1), 78u(d)(3)(A), 78u(e) & 78aa(a)]. 7. Defendants have, directly or indirectly, made use of the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of the mails, or of the facilities of a national securities exchange in connection with the transactions, acts, practices and courses of business alleged in this complaint. 8. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to Section 22(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77v(a)], and Section 27(a) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa(a)], because certain of the transactions, acts, practices, and courses of conduct constituting violations of the federal securities laws occurred within this district. In addition, venue is proper in this district because Spargo resides in this district and CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo conducted business in this district. Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 3 of 17 COMPLAINT 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DEFENDANTS 9. David A. Spargo, age 56, is a resident of Mesa, Arizona. Spargo is the director and co-founder of CannaCloud. Spargo is also the sole member of D.A. Spargo. Spargo is not registered with the SEC in any capacity. 10. CannaCloud, Inc. is a Nevada corporation formed in March 2021, with its principal place of business in Mesa, Arizona. CannaCloud is controlled by defendant David Spargo. CannaCloud is not registered with the SEC in any capacity, nor has it registered any offering of its securities with the SEC. 11. D.A. Spargo & Co., LLC is an Arizona limited liability company formed by Spargo in September 2007, with its principal place of business in Scottsdale. D.A. Spargo is controlled by defendant David Spargo. D.A. Spargo is not registered with the SEC in any capacity, nor has it registered any offering of its securities with the SEC. THE ALLEGATIONS A. CannaCloud’s Purported Business 12. In March 2021, Spargo filed a business license application for CannaCloud with the Nevada Secretary of State. 13. Two weeks later, Spargo filed an application with the Arizona Corporation Commission for CannaCloud to conduct business in Arizona. 14. In both applications, Spargo designated himself as the president, treasurer, and a director of CannaCloud. 15. When formed in March 2021, CannaCloud’s ostensible business was to develop and commercialize a software application that would facilitate the purchase and sale of cannabis products between consumers and marijuana dispensaries. 16. Spargo, who claimed to have expertise and contacts in the cannabis industry, had already begun to raise funds from investors purportedly to build CannaCloud’s business. Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 4 of 17 COMPLAINT 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 B. Defendants’ Fraudulent Securities Offering 1. Convertible note investments offered and sold by CannaCloud 17. The investments offered by defendants were typically short-term notes of three to nine months. These notes offered a 20 percent annual rate of return on the principal amount invested. 18. These investments were documented as convertible notes for shares in CannaCloud. 19. According to the terms of the convertible notes, in exchange for the investor’s transfer of the principal amount to CannaCloud, D.A. Spargo or another Spargo-controlled entity agreed to pay the note purchaser a 20 percent annual interest on the principal amount. 20. In addition, these notes would automatically convert to CannaCloud stock if certain conditions occurred, such as maturity, a financing event, or a change-in-control event. Each note provided a conversion price to calculate the number of CannaCloud shares to be received by the note holder. 2. Defendants’ solicitation of investors 21. Beginning in at least February 2021 and continuing through at least December 2021, Spargo solicited investment in CannaCloud from individual investors. 22. In most cases, Spargo either knew or had met these individual investors, or the investors were the friends or family of people that Spargo knew. 23. When communicating with investors and potential investors about CannaCloud, Spargo provided information about the company by phone, in text messages, or via Whatsapp messages. 24. After Spargo convinced an investor to invest in CannaCloud, the investor transferred their funds to a bank account controlled by Spargo and executed a convertible note for shares in CannaCloud. 25. When soliciting their investment, Spargo explained to investors that if Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 5 of 17 COMPLAINT 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 CannaCloud became a publicly traded company, investors could profit considerably by converting their notes into CannaCloud shares. Spargo further represented to investors that even if CannaCloud did not become a public company, he would personally guarantee a 20 percent annual return on their investment. 26. Following their investment, Spargo continued to communicate with investors about CannaCloud’s ongoing business prospects in a positive light, and several investors decided to invest additional funds in CannaCloud on the basis of these further representations by Spargo. 27. In all, from February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo raised at least $1.65 million through CannaCloud convertible note agreements with approximately 33 investors. 3. CannaCloud’s convertible notes are securities 28. Investors in CannaCloud’s convertible notes were primarily motivated by the generation of profits. 29. Because of the representations made by Spargo and the terms of the notes themselves, an investor in CannaCloud’s convertible notes would reasonably have expected to be making an investment. Indeed, CannaCloud investors subjectively believed their notes were investments and that their invested funds would be used to build CannaCloud’s business, such that they would profit if CannaCloud’s business succeeded. 30. No other regulatory scheme significantly reduced CannaCloud investors’ risk of investment such that the enforcement of the federal securities law is unnecessary. 31. Accordingly, the CannaCloud convertible notes that defendants offered and sold to investors were securities within the meaning of the federal securities laws. 32. In addition, each CannaCloud convertible note investor transferred Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 6 of 17 COMPLAINT 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 money to a Spargo-controlled entity with the understanding that their funds would be used to build CannaCloud’s business. Thus the notes constituted an investment of money. 33. Defendants pooled the investor funds they received from CannaCloud convertible note investors in bank accounts controlled by Spargo. 34. Because defendants’ promised return was a percentage of investors’ principal invested, investors were led to believe they would share profits in a manner proportional to the amount of their investment. 35. If CannaCloud succeeded commercially, then defendants and CannaCloud convertible note investors all stood to profit. 36. CannaCloud convertible note investors expected the profits from their investments to be derived solely from CannaCloud’s efforts to develop its business, which was to commercialize and operate an application that gave marijuana consumers the ability to access inventories of cannabis dispensaries and purchase cannabis products. 37. For this separate reason, CannaCloud’s convertible notes are securities within the meaning of the federal securities laws because they are investment contracts. C. Defendants Made False and Misleading Statements When Offering and Selling Securities to CannaCloud Investors 38. First, Spargo made false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors in which he represented that their invested funds would be used to pay for CannaCloud’s business expenses, such as application development costs, platform fees, professional service fees, and the overall commercialization of CannaCloud’s cannabis marketplace application. 39. In truth, defendants spent only a small amount of the investor funds raised on actual development work, making minimal progress in the relevant period to commercialize CannaCloud’s purported cannabis marketplace Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 7 of 17 COMPLAINT 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 application. Accordingly, Spargo’s representations about how investor funds would be used by defendants were false or misleading. 40. Second, Spargo made false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors about certain unnamed, wealthy third-party investors who, according to Spargo, would be making a “billion-dollar purchase” of CannaCloud. 41. When Spargo made these representations about a “billion-dollar” acquisition of CannaCloud to investors and potential investors, there had been no offer to buy the company. Accordingly, Spargo’s representations about a putative buy-out were false or misleading. 42. Third, Spargo made false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors in which he vastly overstated CannaCloud’s valuation. 43. In mid-2021, Spargo emailed investors a company valuation document and an investor presentation. The valuation document stated that CannaCloud was valued at $7.45 billion. 44. The investor presentation contained an overview of CannaCloud’s business, described its technology, and presented its purported leadership and consultancy team. Further the presentation summarized the investment opportunity available to investors and set forth CannaCloud’s operating and revenue models, which included an assertion that CannaCloud had a 40 percent net profit margin in 2020. 45. At the time that defendants provided investors with these valuation and investor presentation materials, CannaCloud did not have the described leadership team in place. 46. At the time that defendants provided investors with these valuation and investor presentation materials, CannaCloud had not developed its claimed cannabis marketplace application. 47. At the time that defendants provided investors with these valuation and investor presentation materials, CannaCloud had never generated any Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 8 of 17 COMPLAINT 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 operating revenue. 48. Accordingly, defendants’ foregoing representations about CannaCloud’s supposed leadership, valuation, and past and projected financial performance were false or misleading. 49. Fourth, Spargo made false or misleading statements to at least one investor claiming that they would be able to withdraw their investment at any time. 50. When Spargo made this representation, CannaCloud had insufficient funds to honor investor redemption requests. 51. Accordingly, Spargo’s representations about the liquidity of an investment in CannaCloud were false or misleading. 52. The false and misleading statements alleged above were communicated by Spargo either orally or via email communications that Spargo had ultimate authority over, including their content and the manner in which they were communicated. 53. In addition, the convertible notes purchased by CannaCloud investors were all counter-signed by Spargo on the issuer’s behalf and were sent by Spargo to investors. 54. Accordingly, Spargo made all of the false and misleading statements alleged above. D. Defendants Engaged in a Scheme to Defraud 1. Misappropriation of investor funds 55. Instead of using the investor funds raised to grow CannaCloud’s claimed business, defendants misappropriated investors’ money. 56. Of the approximately $1,651,609 that defendants took from investors in their securities offering, they misappropriated approximately $1,500,000. 57. Within days of an investor deposit, Spargo often depleted the funds by spending the money at casinos in Las Vegas or Arizona, withdrawing the money at ATMs or paying for personal expenses. Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 9 of 17 COMPLAINT 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 58. Spargo also used investor funds to pay down his personal credit cards, car loans, or luxury hotel account balances. 59. Spargo also used investor money to pay for personal expenses, including purchases at retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, as well as the payment of Spargo’s personal federal taxes. 60. Spargo also transferred investor money to bank accounts controlled by him or his spouse. 61. When misappropriating investor funds for Spargo’s personal use, defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud. 2. Lulling of defrauded investors 62. In time, CannaCloud’s convertible note investors had received neither their promised 20 percent annual return nor their stock in CannaCloud. 63. When certain investors requested their money back, Spargo did not honor those requests. 64. Instead, Spargo made further false and misleading representations about CannaCloud and its business prospects. Specifically, Spargo falsely claimed to these investors that CannaCloud would soon be purchased by an unnamed third- party investor. Spargo claimed that existing CannaCloud convertible note investors stood to profit from that acquisition but only if they continued with their investment in the company. 65. Through this pattern of additional false and misleading lulling statements, Spargo intended to conceal defendants’ ongoing fraud from detection. 66. Defendants’ lulling efforts alleged above were made in furtherance of their scheme to defraud. E. Defendants’ False and Misleading Statements and Scheme to Defraud Were Material 67. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ representations about how their Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 10 of 17 COMPLAINT 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 funds would be used were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that Spargo spent only a de minimis amount of investor funds on development expenses, and instead engaged in a widescale misappropriation of investor funds for his personal use. 68. Any reasonable investor would also consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ representations about CannaCloud’s commercial progress and the status of its business were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that CannaCloud never developed its claimed cannabis marketplace application, generated no operating revenues, and took no meaningful steps to achieve its business goals. 69. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that the business valuation and investor presentation materials defendants provided to investors and potential investors—claiming, among other things, that CannaCloud had been valued at $7.25 billion and had realized a 40 percent net profit margin in FY 2020—were false or misleading. 70. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ representations concerning CannaCloud’s anticipated acquisition by a third-party were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that there had been no offer to buy CannaCloud. 71. Any reasonable investor would consider it significant to their investment decision to know that defendants’ claims that investors could take their money out of CannaCloud at any time were false or misleading. Moreover, any reasonable investor would have considered it important to know that CannaCloud lacked the funds to honor any such redemption requests. F. Defendants Acted with Scienter and Their Conduct was Negligent 72. Spargo knew or was reckless in not knowing that defendants’ Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 11 of 17 COMPLAINT 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 representations to investors and potential investors—concerning the use of their funds, the true state of CannaCloud’s business, the prospect of CannaCloud’s acquisition by a well-financed third-party, the liquidity of their CannaCloud investments, and CannaCloud’s asserted multi-billion valuation and track record of profit—were all false or misleading. 73. Because Spargo controlled the financial accounts receiving investor funds, Spargo knew that defendants were misappropriating investor funds for his personal use. 74. Spargo’s conduct in making the foregoing false or misleading statements to investors and potential investors was unreasonable, and therefore negligent. 75. Spargo’s conduct in directing the misuse of investor funds through his control of the financial accounts receiving investor funds was unreasonable, and therefore negligent. 76. Spargo’s knowledge, intent, and negligence is imputed to defendants CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo because he controlled both entity defendants. G. Defendants’ Fraudulent Scheme Collapses and Investors Sustain a Seven-Figure Investment Loss 77. Contrary to defendants’ representations, CannaCloud has not commercialized its cannabis marketplace application. Further, CannaCloud has not become a publicly-traded company or been sold to a new buyer. 78. Defendants refused the redemption requests from their convertible note investors. With all of the notes having now reached maturity, defendants’ investor victims have sustained pecuniary harm, with approximately $1.5 million of investor funds having been misappropriated. Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 12 of 17 COMPLAINT 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF Fraud in the Offer or Sale of Securities Violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act 79. The SEC realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 78 above. 80. From at least February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo carried out an offering of securities in the form of convertible promissory notes through CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo, entities that he controlled. Defendants raised approximately $1.65 million from approximately 33 convertible note investors through representations concerning CannaCloud’s business and its future prospects. Defendants misrepresented to investors CannaCloud’s financial performance in 2020, the company’s valuation, the liquidity of their investments in CannaCloud, the prospect of the company’s acquisition by a third-party, and how defendants would use investor funds to further CannaCloud’s business operations. These representations were materially false or misleading as CannaCloud engaged in no meaningful operations and generated no revenue. Instead, defendants engaged in a broad misappropriation of investor funds for Spargo’s personal use. 81. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, directly or indirectly, in the offer or sale of securities, and by the use of means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails directly or indirectly: (a) employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud; (b) obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material fact or by omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (c) engaged in transactions, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. 82. Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, with scienter, Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 13 of 17 COMPLAINT 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud; with scienter or negligence, obtained money or property by means of untrue statements of a material fact or by omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and, with scienter or negligence, engaged in transactions, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. 83. CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo acted entirely through Spargo and his knowledge, recklessness, or negligence, which may be imputed to CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo. 84. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo violated, and unless restrained and enjoined will continue to violate, Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 77q(a)(1), 77q(a)(2), & 77q(a)(3). SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF Fraud in Connection with the Purchase and Sale of Securities Violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder 85. The SEC realleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 84 above. 86. From at least February 2021 to December 2021, Spargo carried out an offering of securities in the form of convertible promissory notes through CannaCloud and D.A. Spargo, entities that he controlled. Defendants raised approximately $1.65 million from approximately 33 convertible note investors through representations concerning CannaCloud’s business and its future prospects. Defendants misrepresented to investors CannaCloud’s financial performance in 2020, the company’s valuation, the liquidity of their investments in CannaCloud, the prospect of the company’s acquisition by a third-party, and how defendants would use investor funds to further CannaCloud’s business operations. These representations were materially false or misleading as CannaCloud engaged Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 14 of 17 COMPLAINT 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 in no meaningful operations and generated no revenue. Instead, defendants engaged in a broad misappropriation of investor funds for Spargo’s personal use. 87. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of a security, by the use of means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of the mails, or of the facilities of a national securities exchange: (a) employed devices, schemes, or artifices to defraud; (b) made untrue statements of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (c) engaged in acts, practices, or courses of business which operated or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon other persons. 88. Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, with scienter, employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud; made untrue statements of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and engaged in acts, practices or courses of conduct that operated as a fraud on the investing public by the conduct described in detail above. 89. By engaging in the conduct described above, Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo violated, and unless restrained and enjoined will continue to violate, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), and Rules 10b-5(a), 10b-5(b), and 10b-5(c) thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §§ 240.10b-5(a), 240.10b-5(b) & 240.10b-5(c). PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, the SEC respectfully requests that the Court: I. Issue findings of fact and conclusions of law that Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo committed the alleged violations. Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 15 of 17 COMPLAINT 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 II. Issue judgments, in forms consistent with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, permanently enjoining Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo, and their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and those persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of the judgment by personal service or otherwise, and each of them, from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. §77q(a)], and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5]. III. Issue an order, pursuant to Section 20(e) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77t(e), and Section 21(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(2), prohibiting Defendant Spargo from acting as an officer or director of any issuer that has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, 12 U.S.C. § 78l, or that is required to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 780(d). IV. Issue judgements, in forms consistent with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, permanently enjoining Defendant Spargo from, directly or indirectly, including but not limited to, through any entity owned or controlled by him, participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security in an unregistered offering, provided, however, that such injunction shall not prevent him from purchasing or selling securities for his own personal account. V. Order Defendants Spargo, CannaCloud, and D.A. Spargo to disgorge all funds received from their illegal conduct, together with prejudgment interest thereon, pursuant to Exchange Act Sections 21(d)(5) and 21(d)(7) [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(3), 78u(d)(5) and 78u(d)(7)]. Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 16 of 17 COMPLAINT 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 VI. Order Defendant Spargo to pay civil penalties under Section 20(d) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. § 77t(d)] and Section 21(d)(3) of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(3)]. VII. Retain jurisdiction of this action in accordance with the principles of equity and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in order to implement and carry out the terms of all orders and decrees that may be entered, or to entertain any suitable application or motion for additional relief within the jurisdiction of this Court. VIII. Grant such other and further relief as this Court may determine to be just and necessary. Dated: March 28, 2025 /s/ Alec Johnson Alec Johnson Heather C. Gorman Attorneys for Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission Case 2:25-cv-01043-DMF Document 1 Filed 03/28/25 Page 17 of 17