Friedman to pay $1.5M for missed red flags in 2 audits
By 
Adrianne Appel2022-09-26T17:03:00
Accounting firm Friedman will pay more than $1.5 million to settle charges it failed to comply with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) while auditing two companies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Friday.
Friedman exhibited improper conduct while auditing the companies, including iFresh for fiscal years 2017-20, the SEC alleged in its order. The second firm, unnamed by the agency, was audited by Friedman for fiscal years 2016-20.
The SEC previously charged iFresh, a wholesale grocery business with retail stores in Florida, Massachusetts, and New York, with repeatedly filing materially inaccurate financial statements. iFresh and its chief executive officer, Long Deng, engaged in undisclosed transactions with entities controlled by Deng or that were owned by Deng’s brother, the agency alleged.
THIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT
You are not logged in and do not have access to members-only content.
If you are already a registered user or a member, SIGN IN now.
Related articles
-
News BriefFriedman latest fined in PCAOB crackdown on unregistered auditor use
Friedman agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty to settle charges by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board it over-relied on the work of unregistered Chinese firms across 12 public company audits.
-
Article
SEC official advises auditors shift mindset on fraud detection
Paul Munter, acting chief accountant at the Securities and Exchange Commission, issued a statement highlighting auditors’ responsibilities in fighting fraud, including his office’s recent observations of shortcomings in the area.
-
News BriefCFPB pullback signals further shift toward industry-friendly regulation
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to unravel amid pressure from Trump administration officials to shutter the agency. Not only has the agency informed its employees that it will no longer be a watchdog for the financial services industry, it has also laid off employees despite court orders blocking ...
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefTrump’s CFPB, dismissing Comerica case, continues to cut down Biden-era lawsuits
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped yet another consumer protection lawsuit against a bank or fintech provider since Donald Trump was sworn in as president in January. This time, it was with Comerica Bank.
-
News BriefCash App parent to pay $40 million for alleged BSA/AML violations in New York
Block Inc., maker of the popular Cash App, has been hit with a $40 million fine by New York for its alleged failure to report suspicious activity. The move marks the latest in a string of recent state and federal enforcement actions against the company.
-
News BriefDOJ disbands crypto investigation unit, another sign of the Trump administration’s support of digital currency
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) disbanded its crypto investigation unit on Monday, marking another step from President Donald Trump to support the crypto industry and lighten the regulatory burden of potential crypto crime investigations that had started under the Biden administration.