Today the SEC announced an award of more than $27 million to a whistleblower who alerted the agency to misconduct occurring, in part, overseas. The record demonstrated that the informer voluntarily provided original information to the Commission that led to the successful enforcement of the action. The whistleblower provided a substantial amount of ongoing assistance and cooperation by meeting with staff numerous times and providing relevant documents and critical investigative leads that advanced the investigation and saved the Commission a significant amount of time and resources. Additionally, the SEC noted that the informant repeatedly and strenuously raised its concerns internally.
The SEC has awarded approximately $430 million to 80 individuals since issuing its first award in 2012. All payments through this program are made from an investor protection fund established by Congress that is financed entirely through monetary sanctions paid to the SEC by securities law violators. The Commission emphasizes, that no money has been taken or withheld from harmed investors to pay whistleblower awards. The informant’s award is based on a percentage of the money collected in fees and sanctions paid by the violators they uncovered, and if they provided the SEC with original, timely, and credible information that leads to a successful enforcement action. Whistleblower awards can range from 10% to 30% of the money collected when the monetary sanctions exceed $1 million.
As set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act, the SEC protects the confidentiality of whistleblowers and does not discloses information that could reveal a whistleblower’s identity. If you believe you have information of a material information that would be helpful to the SEC’s mission, David A. Weintraub, P.A. may be able to represent you in connection with your whistleblower claim.