On August 19, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions against Michael A. Atkins. The Order finds that Atkins was associated with LandOak Securities, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the Commission, from April 2000 until October 2006. The Order also finds that LandOak is a broker-dealer registered with the Commission, and that from April 1996 until July 2007, Atkins was a registered representative associated with LandOak.

The Order further finds that on Aug. 10, 2009, a final judgment was entered by consent against Atkins, permanently enjoining him from future violations of Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. LandOak Securities, LLC, Patrick L. Martin, and Michael A. Atkins, Civil Action Number 3:08-cv-0209, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The Order finds that the complaint in the civil action alleged that in July 2002, Atkins and another person took $1,545,000 from a Tennessee limited liability company, and diverted or loaned it to Tice Technologies, Inc., without disclosing to the limited liability company’s investors, several of whom were LandOak advisory clients, that Atkins had a conflict of interest because he was a director of Tice and owned a substantial stake in that company.

Based on the above, the SEC Order bars Michael A. Atkins from association with any broker, dealer, or investment adviser, with the right to reapply for association after three years to the appropriate self-regulatory organization, or if there is none, to the Commission. Michael A. Atkins consented to the issuance of the Order without admitting or denying any of the findings.

If you have questions about investments you made with Michael A. Atkins or Land Oak Securities, or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, The White Law Group may be able to help. To speak to a securities attorney, please call our Chicago office at 312-238-9650 for a free consultation.

The White Law Group is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida.

For more information on The White Law Group, visit https://whitesecuritieslaw.com.