2023-03-03
Added · Updated
J.A.G. Capital, LLC and Joseph Richard Bozzi are barred from transacting business as a broker-dealer or investment adviser in Connecticut for ten years and must cease and desist from violating the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act. The Respondents must jointly and severally pay $7,500 in restitution to three investors through monthly installments starting upon signing the order and continuing through September 2023. A $20,000 administrative fine is temporarily stayed for three years, becoming immediately payable if the Commissioner determines the Respondents are able to pay or if material misstatements are discovered in their financial affidavit. Failure to comply with the restitution schedule or other terms triggers a $40,000 fine and permanent enforcement of the cease and desist order.
IN THE MATTER OF: * * J.A.G. CAPITAL, LLC * CONSENT ORDER * JOSEPH RICHARD BOZZI * MATTER NO. CRF-23-8398-S CRD NO. 6140946 * * (Collectively, “Respondents”) * *
I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT WHEREAS, the Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Chapter 672a of the General Statutes of Connecticut, the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act (“Act”), and Sections 36b-31-2 to 36b-31-33, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (“Regulations”) promulgated under the Act; WHEREAS,. J.A.G. Capital, LLC (“JAG”) is a Connecticut limited liability company that was formed on March 18, 2016. JAG’s principal place of business and addresses last known to the Commissioner are: 33 South Cherry Street, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492; and 43 Bayberry Drive, Wallingford, Connecticut 06492. JAG is not and has not been registered in any capacity under the Act; WHEREAS,. Joseph Richard Bozzi (“Bozzi”) is an individual whose address last known to the Commissioner is 101 Henry Street East Haven, Connecticut T 06512. Bozzi is the founding member and manager of JAG. While Bozzi applied for registration as a broker-dealer agent and as an investment adviser agent under the Act on March 4, 2013, the applications for registration did not become effective
2 - since Bozzi’s association with his then employing firm was terminated. Bozzi is not and has not been registered in any capacity under the Act; WHEREAS, the Commissioner, through the Securities and Business Investments Division (“Division”) of the Department of Banking, conducted an investigation pursuant to Section 36b-26(a) of the Act into the activities of Respondents to determine if they violated, were violating or were about to violate provisions of the Act or Regulations (“Investigation”); WHEREAS, as a result of the Investigation, on February 18, 2022, the Commissioner, acting pursuant to Section 36b-27 of the Act issued an Order to Cease and Desist, Order to Make Restitution, Notice of Intent to Fine and Notice of Right to Hearing (Docket No. CRF-22-8398-S) (collectively, “Notice”) against Respondents, which Notice is incorporated by reference herein; WHEREAS, on March 7, 2022, Respondents requested a hearing on the matters alleged in the Notice; WHEREAS, on April 18, 2022, the Commissioner issued a Notification of Hearing and Designation of Hearing Officer wherein the Commissioner appointed Staff Attorney Eric Beckenstein as Hearing Officer, and scheduled a hearing on the matters alleged in the Notice for October 12, 2022, at 10 a.m. (“Hearing”); WHEREAS, on October 11, 2022, Hearing Officer Beckenstein at the mutual request of the parties continued the Hearing to November 29, 2022, at 10 a.m.; WHEREAS, on November 21, 2022, Hearing Officer Beckenstein at the mutual request of the parties continued the Hearing to January 17, 2023, at 10 a.m.; WHEREAS, Respondents and the Commissioner now desire to resolve the matters alleged in the Notice without the need for further administrative proceedings; WHEREAS, while Respondents have repaid a portion of the $12,800 in investment proceeds remitted to Respondents for the purported purpose of investing such funds in an account managed by Bozzi, Respondents still owe three investors an aggregate remaining balance of $7,500.
3 - Specifically, Respondents owe Investor 1 one hundred dollars ($100), Investor 2 two thousand dollars ($2,000) and Investor 3 five thousand four hundred dollars ($5,400); WHEREAS, Respondents have provided documentation to the Division demonstrating that they are financially unable to pay the administrative fine that might otherwise have been imposed against them pursuant to Section 36b-27 of the Act as a result of this administrative proceeding or as a term of this Consent Order; WHEREAS, Section 36b-31(a) of the Act provides, in relevant part, that “[t]he commissioner may from time to time make . . . such . . . orders as are necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 36b-2 to 36b-34, inclusive”; WHEREAS, Section 36b-31(b) of the Act provides, in relevant part, that “[n]o . . . order may be made . . . unless the commissioner finds that the action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors and consistent with the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of sections 36b-2 to 36b-34, inclusive”; WHEREAS, an administrative proceeding initiated under Section 36b-27 of the Act would constitute a “contested case” within the meaning of Section 4-166(4) of the General Statutes of Connecticut; WHEREAS, Section 36b-27(f) of the Act provides, in relevant part, that “[a]ny time after the issuance of an order or notice provided for in subsection (a) . . . or subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of this section, the commissioner may accept an agreement by any respondent named in such order or notice to enter into a written consent order in lieu of an adjudicative hearing”; WHEREAS, Section 4-177(c) of the General Statutes of Connecticut and Section 36a-1-55(a) of the Regulations provide that a contested case may be resolved by consent order, unless precluded by law; WHEREAS, Respondents expressly consent to the Commissioner’s jurisdiction under the Act and to the terms of this Consent Order;
4 - WHEREAS, the Commissioner finds that the entry of this Consent Order is necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors and consistent with the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act; WHEREAS, Respondents acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to consult with and be represented by independent counsel in negotiating and reviewing this Consent Order and execute this Consent Order freely; AND WHEREAS, Respondents, through their execution of this Consent Order, specifically represent and agree that none of the violations alleged in the Notice shall occur in the future. II. CONSENT TO WAIVER OF PROCEDURAL RIGHTS WHEREAS, Respondents, through their execution of this Consent Order, voluntarily waive the following rights:
9 - CONSENT TO ENTRY OF ORDER I, Joseph Richard Bozzi, state on behalf of J.A.G. Capital, LLC (“JAG”), that I have read the foregoing Consent Order; that I know and fully understand its contents; that I am authorized to execute this Consent Order on behalf of JAG; that JAG agrees freely and without threat or coercion of any kind to comply with the terms and conditions stated herein; and that JAG consents to the entry of this Consent Order. J.A.G. Capital, LLC By: /s/_______ Joseph Richard Bozzi Member State of: Connecticut County of: New Haven On this the 7th day of February, 2023, before me, the undersigned officer, personally appeared Joseph Richard Bozzi, who acknowledged himself to be the Member of J.A.G. Capital, LLC, a limited liability company, and that he, as such Member, being authorized so to do, executed the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein contained, by signing the name of the limited liability company by himself as Member. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand. /s/____________________ Notary Public Date Commission Expires: 06/30/2025
10 - CONSENT TO ENTRY OF ORDER I, Joseph Richard Bozzi, state that I have read the foregoing Consent Order; that I know and fully understand its contents; that I agree freely and without threat or coercion of any kind to comply with the terms and conditions stated herein; and that I consent to the entry of this Consent Order. /s/__________ Joseph Richard Bozzi State of: Connecticut County of: New Haven On this the 7th day of February, 2023, before me, the undersigned officer, personally appeared Joseph Richard Bozzi, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged that he executed the same for the purposes therein contained. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand. /s/_____________________ Notary Public Date Commission Expires: 06/30/2025