SEC v. Crystal World Holdings, Inc.; The New Sports Economy Institute; and Christopher Rabalais, No. LR-26244, District of Columbia (Feb. 10, 2025) — Press Release
raw: Crystal World Holdings, Inc.; The New Sports Economy Institute; and Christopher Rabalais
Crystal World Holdings, Inc.; The New Sports Economy Institute; and Christopher Rabalais, No. 1:19-cv-02490 (D.D.C. Feb. 10, 2025)
The SEC obtained a final judgment against Christopher Rabalais and his companies for an unregistered securities 'gift-donation' scheme involving $1,468,556 in disgorgement.
The SEC secured a final judgment against Crystal World Holdings, Inc., The New Sports Economy Institute, and Christopher Rabalais for the unregistered offer and sale of securities. The defendants were ordered to jointly and severally pay $1,468,556 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest. Additionally, the court imposed civil penalties of $223,229 on Rabalais and $100,000 on each of the two companies.
The SEC obtained a final judgment against Crystal World Holdings, Inc., The New Sports Economy Institute, and former principal Christopher Rabalais for operating a fraudulent 'gift-donation' scheme. Rabalais allegedly solicited funds as 'donations' to his non-profit entity in exchange for 'gifts' of Crystal World stock, falsely claiming the stock was nearing SEC registration. The court ordered the defendants to jointly and severally pay $1,468,556 in disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest. Furthermore, Rabalais was ordered to pay a $223,229 civil penalty, while both companies were each fined $100,000. The defendants previously consented to a partial judgment without admitting or denying the allegations. The final judgment permanently enjoins the parties from violating antifraud and registration provisions of the Securities Act or participating in unregistered securities transactions.
Exhibits & Attached Documents (1)
Extracted insights
- $1.47M $1,468,556 $1M–$10M
- $223K $223,229 $100K–$1M
- $100K $100,000 $100K–$1M
- person christopher rabalais
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities And Exchange Commission obtained final judgment against Crystal World Holdings, Inc., The New Sports Economy Institute, and Christopher Rabalais
- Christopher Rabalais solicited funds from investors
- Christopher Rabalais described funds as "donations" to New Sports
- Christopher Rabalais provided "gifts" of Crystal World stock to investors
- Christopher Rabalais touted Crystal World stock as about to be registered with the Commission
- Christopher Rabalais and the companies did not understand how securities registration was achieved
- Securities And Exchange Commission charged Crystal World Holdings, Inc., The New Sports Economy Institute, and Christopher Rabalais with unregistered offer and sale of securities and fraudulent gift-donation scheme
- Court ordered Rabalais and the companies to pay $1,468,556 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest
- Court ordered Rabalais to pay a civil penalty of $223,229
- Court ordered Crystal World and New Sports to each pay civil penalties of $100,000
- Securities And Exchange Commission enjoined Rabalais and the companies from violating antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and registration requirements of Section 5
- Securities And Exchange Commission enjoined Rabalais and the companies from participating in unregistered issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security
- Securities And Exchange Commission conducted investigation by Michael Flanagan and supervised by Ivonia Slade
- Securities And Exchange Commission conducted litigation by Patrick Costello and supervised by David Nasse
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 26244 / February 10, 2025 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Crystal World Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 1:19-cv-02490 (CJN) (D.D.C. filed Aug. 19, 2019) SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Issuer For The Unregistered Offer And Sale of Securities In An Alleged “Gift-Donation” Scheme On January 28, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a final judgment against Crystal World Holdings, Inc., The New Sports Economy Institute, and their former principal, Christopher Rabalais, of Forest Hill, Louisiana, who were previously charged with the unregistered offer and sale of securities and operating a fraudulent “gift-donation” scheme. The Commission’s complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on August 19, 2019, alleged that Rabalais solicited funds from investors that he described as “donations” to New Sports, a non-profit entity he controlled, in return for which investors received “gifts” of Crystal World stock. The complaint further alleged that Rabalais would then tout that the Crystal World stock was about to registered with the Commission, stressing in email solicitations and website posts the importance of buying the stock before registration made it valuable. Yet, according to the complaint, no steps were taken to register the stock and, for much of the fundraising period, Rabalais and the companies did not understand how such registration was achieved. Rabalais and the companies previously consented to entry of a partial judgment, without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, permanently enjoining them from violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act; and further permanently enjoining them from participating in the unregistered issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security. On January 28, 2025, the Court entered a final judgment ordering Rabalais and the companies to pay, jointly and severally, $1,468,556 in disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest. The Court also ordered Rabalais to pay a civil penalty of $223,229, and Crystal World and New Sports to each pay civil penalties of $100,000. The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Michael Flanagan and supervised by Ivonia Slade. The litigation was conducted by Patrick Costello and supervised by David Nasse. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued investor alerts on the red flags of investment fraud. Additional information is available on Investor.gov.
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Litigation Release No. 26244 / February 10, 2025 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Crystal World Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 1:19-cv-02490 (CJN) (D.D.C. filed Aug. 19, 2019) SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Issuer For The Unregistered Offer And Sale of Securities In An Alleged “Gift-Donation” Scheme On January 28, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a final judgment against Crystal World Holdings, Inc., The New Sports Economy Institute, and their former principal, Christopher Rabalais, of Forest Hill, Louisiana, who were previously charged with the unregistered offer and sale of securities and operating a fraudulent “gift-donation” scheme. The Commission’s complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on August 19, 2019, alleged that Rabalais solicited funds from investors that he described as “donations” to New Sports, a non-profit entity he controlled, in return for which investors received “gifts” of Crystal World stock. The complaint further alleged that Rabalais would then tout that the Crystal World stock was about to registered with the Commission, stressing in email solicitations and website posts the importance of buying the stock before registration made it valuable. Yet, according to the complaint, no steps were taken to register the stock and, for much of the fundraising period, Rabalais and the companies did not understand how such registration was achieved. Rabalais and the companies previously consented to entry of a partial judgment, without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, permanently enjoining them from violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act; and further permanently enjoining them from participating in the unregistered issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security. On January 28, 2025, the Court entered a final judgment ordering Rabalais and the companies to pay, jointly and severally, $1,468,556 in disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest. The Court also ordered Rabalais to pay a civil penalty of $223,229, and Crystal World and New Sports to each pay civil penalties of $100,000. The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Michael Flanagan and supervised by Ivonia Slade. The litigation was conducted by Patrick Costello and supervised by David Nasse. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued investor alerts on the red flags of investment fraud. Additional information is available on Investor.gov.