SEC and DOJ-SDNY Charges “TheBull”Apostolos Trovias with Selling "Insider Trading Tips" - Peru Extradition
When the SEC comes knocking - hire a competent firm with expertise in SEC matters. Listen and Obey everything thar firm tells you to do - thoughts and prayers -See SUSPENSION ORDERS TOO 55 to be exact
…pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934…
Which vest the SEC with the statutory authority to “temporarily suspended trading in the securities” if the foregoing company’s SEC Flings lack accuracy and adequate public information about the Company’s due to questions concerning their operating status. In short while yes SOP for the SEC it is noteworthy they issued 55 trace suspension on Friday July 9, 2021
Securities and Exchange Commission announced the temporary suspension of trading in the securities of 12, 2021, and terminating the following issuers, commencing at 9:30 a.m. EDT on July at 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 23, 2021:
American Community Newspapers Inc (ACN)
…is a holding company which acquires various community newspapers. Presently ACN publishes appropriately:
68 weekly and two daily community newspapers
and three niche publications with a total weekly circulation of approximately 900,000 households.
ACN’s main geographic areas include: suburban Minneapolis, Kansas City and areas surrounding Dallas.
ACN publications include weekly and daily newspapers with editorial content covering local news and events and niche publications with content specifically targeting the Jewish and nursing communities in the Kansas City and St. Louis markets. Its publications are distributed on a paid and free controlled circulation basis within their respective local markets and the demographics of the Company geographic markets exhibit above average household income and household growth
and no the DOJ-OPA does not include an Open Source Link to the newly unsealed indictment -Indictment (unsealed on July 9 2021) see SDNY-ECF https://ecf.nysd.uscourts.gov/doc1/127129423734 or via my public drive - you’ll note the COMPLAINT (see SDNY-ECF for affidavit as to Apostolos Trovias (1). In Violation of 18 U.S.C. 1348, 1349 and 2) was obtained on February 22, 2021
…the recently unsealed Indictment, which reads in part:
December 2016 thru August 2020 APOSTOLOS TROVIAS, who identifies himself by the pseudonym “The Bull,” has used websites on the Dark Web and encrypted messaging services to solicit and sell confidential, non-public information about publicly traded companies (“Inside Information”) to enrich himself. TROVIAS’s scheme consisted of multiple related efforts to obtain and monetize confidential nonpublic business information, including;
1) the sale of misappropriated stock tips based on confidential customer trading information;
2) the sale of pre-release earnings reports and deal information misappropriated from publicly-traded companies; and
3) the attempted creation of an online marketplace to connect, for a commission, individuals misappropriating Inside Information to individuals willing to pay for and trade on Inside Information.
This is like JD word porn (for me, don’t judge me) and things you never want to see in an affidavit, complaint and/or indictment, besides your own name… “UC-1, UC-2, UC-3” and “recorded” encrypted telephone calls <—yes plural. Trust me you want to read every page of this. It’s delicious
Alphabay you say…
The information contained in this Complaint is based upon my personal knowledge, as well as information obtained during this investigation, directly or indirectly, from other sources, including, but not limited to:
(a) business records; (b) correspondence and electronic communications, including emails and instant messages; (c) bitcoin transaction data and bitcoin blockchain analysis tools; (d) publicly available documents; (e) conversations with, and reports prepared by, other FBI agents and agents of the Internal Revenue Service, including the agents referred to below as “UC-1,” “UC-2,” and “UC-3”; (f) audio recordings and screen activity recordings; and (g) information supplied by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Alphabay and DreamMarket
Look I’m not wasting my time trying to track down one of dozens of threads I created -however I know for a fact I created a long thread about this October 2020 and you really should read it because it’s important.
…because “theBull’s” indictment repeatedly references this report. For the life of me, I”ll never understand the sick obsession some had (and still have) with my Twitter accounts. Are you proud of yourselves for flushing an enumerable amount of hours of research down the Twitter toilet. Assholes, a pox on all your houses and I hope your children never reproduce—you’ve already jacked up the gene pool. Those are hours I spent away from my family and friends —thanks for wasting my time, again. Now where was I before that little detour…aha YES paragraph 6(a), which reads in part:
AlphaBay Market (“AlphaBay”) and Dream Market were online marketplaces that enabled users to buy and sell illegal goods, including controlled substances, stolen and fraudulent identification documents and access devices, counterfeit goods, malware and other computer hacking tools, firearms, and toxic chemicals.
The sites also allowed users to buy and sell illegal services, such as money laundering. AlphaBay operated from in or about 2014 until in or about July 2017. Dream Market operated from in or about 2013 until in or about April 2019.
Do you see what I highlighted and underlined - MLAT which came in handy because here the DOJ discloses an MLAT helped secure screen recordings from a foreign government - specifically paragraph 9:
Based on a query of a database containing AlphaBay’s server images, which were obtained from a foreign government by U.S. law enforcement pursuant to a request for legal assistance, and a review of screen-recordings of AlphaBay activity, I have learned, in part…
Also see this DOJ February 2019 MLAT Report -I trust my readers to provide them with original DOJ documents because I’m not an insecure information hoarder.
Specifically, on or about December 7, 2016, in the “Fraud > Other > Other” category, The Bull published a post entitled, “Hedge Fund Insider | Stock Trading Tips $ Promo Price $[.]” The post appeared as follows:
From January to March of 2017 “theBull” posted various advertisements on Alphabay -solicitation of his illicit services and cost per service…
prices associated with an individual tip, a weekly subscription, and a monthly subscription were $29.95, $99.95, and $329.95 respectively.
AlphaBay Users Buy The Bull’s Tips and Trade on Them -I mean the level of detail in paragraph 10 (a) thru (c) is amazing and yet still stunning - paragraph 10 reads in part:
May 30, 2017, The Bull provided user “Dayquil” with the tip: “Ticker: MOBL (NASDAQ) LONG | BUY AFTER THE OPENING | CONFIDENCE LEVEL 8[.]” On June 18, 2017, The Bull followed up with “Dayquil,” inquiring, “Everything alright with the previous tip?” “Dayquil” then responded, “Went perfectly! Thank you and looking forward to the next tip!”
June 11, 2017, The Bull responded to a question from user “JacksonHawaii” about the possibility of paying for tips on a percentage basis, rather than by upfront fee. The Bull wrote, in part, “The tips are coming from a company’s order book and are based on big buy/sell orders. I am keen on sharing the profits, actually [I] am already working with quite a few people on a percentage deal.”
June 13, 2017, The Bull provided user “fuffylo” with a tip: “OMNT (NASDAQ) LONG | BUY AFTER THE OPENING | CONFIDENCE LEVEL 8.” Two days later, on June 15, 2017, “fuffylo” wrote The Bull, in part, “Did you see OMNT? shit I take only 8%[.]”
Oh come on “thebull” got great reviews & had happy customers…
“joshmcpoyle”, “metacapitalist” and “funani” all wrote glowing recommendations about The Bull’s costumer service and excellent customer communications but “funani” review appears to have been translated and I swear it reads like a Slavic language to English translations (also true story English is my 2nd language) but even I can pick up on that translation and “I’m not a French major”
“geobull@protonmail.com,”<— recently posted on a porn website that appears to be part of some really weird shit but I’m not clicking the link because I don’t want maleate on (yet another) personal device of mine - shit the FBI still has my iPad from 2017 after I was injected with malware via Twitter’s API - looking at you Dougglas Mackey. Shittlestix was that with my out loud voice, my bad
💀 just oh so 💀
The Bull Sells Inside Information to UC-1 - and spent MONTHS communicating with the UC-1 - see pages 7 thru 11 detailing the communications with UC-1- and in case I forget to say this - I LURVES THE FBI - A LOT - thank you for always standing watch and then providing exquisite details like this:
In or about June 2017, a federal agent acting undercover (“UC-1”) responded to The Bull’s AlphaBay posts and subscribed to The Bull’s stock-tip service through AlphaBay’s marketplace. UC-1 recorded the transaction using screen-capture software. Thereafter, The Bull, writing from the email address “geobull@protonmail.com,” provided stock tips to UC-1 by email. Based on a review of the messages between UC-1 and The Bull…
Analogic Corporations Q4 2017 financial statements, I have learned that The Bull was correct: that is, the figures provided in The Bull’s September 18, 2017 tip for net income corresponded to the figure provided in Analogic’s Q4 2017 Consolidated Statement of Operations for outstanding weighted-average shares and the figures provided in. The Bull’s September 18, 2017 tip for total revenue corresponded to the figure in Analogic’s Q4 2017 unaudited consolidated balance sheet for total assets.
Enter FBI-UC-2
Again when folks start dragging the FBI - it makes me want to dole out throat punches because sure the FBI has made some mistakes, but they rarely if ever repeat that mistake. Why? Duh because the FBI learns from past mistakes. So seeing some, especially blue checks ragging on the FBI, I say this with zero respect intended - stay off Twitter, get a real job and shut your ignorant filthy mouths. The FBI is always standing watch. God for bid your child is kidnapped or involved in child prostitution- guess what - you want the FBI helping you. You no-nothing intolerant troglodytes. Also whispers I think the Bull has small dick energy because I find men who say “big boys” tend to be actually small and pett7 AF…snort
The Bull communicated with FBI UC-2 for almost a year -see pages 12 thru 15
August 2017, an undercover agent with theFBI (“UC-2”) encountered a post by “TheBull” on Dream Market, which could only be accessed by users on the Tor network…Buying my service will [give] you an edge by knowing what the big boys are buying or selling…
April 25, 2018, UC-2 responded to that post by email, writing, in part: “What exactly are you offering? Are they tips being put together from seeing a big boys books? Are there any other services you are offering? Lay it all on me.”
May 2018 thru March 2020 -200 Tips
I don’t know why but I genuinely laughed out loud as I was reading this indictment - The Bull wasn’t as smart as he portended to be - often those who pound their chest in the act of pimping, I mean pumping one’s skills, yes they tend to be mental midgets
…communications between UC-2 and The Bull, I believe this message reflects The Bull explaining that he offers confidential pre-release earnings for sale but the price depends on how much the earnings diverge from past performance
UC-2 then subscribed to The Bull’s stock tip service. UC-2 paid for the service by transmitting Bitcoin to a particular Bitcoin wallet identified by The Bull. Thereafter, between in or about May 2018 and March 2020, UC-2 received more than approximately 200 stock tips from The Bull in exchange for monthly Bitcoin payments, with payments being transmitted to particular Bitcoin addresses supplied by The Bull. Numerous tips were received by UC-2 while UC-2 was in the Southern District of New York.
Let’s build a new website enter FBI UC-3
Medidata Solutions was one of The Bull’s victims - they were later party (as a defendant) to a class action lawsuit by shareholders who said Medidata didn’t take cyber security seriously
In correspondence with The Bull, UC-2 offered to assist The Bull with his plans. Among other things, UC-2 further offered to enlist the help of another individual, whom UC-2described as a fund manager, but who was, in truth, another FBI agent acting in an undercover capacity (“UC-3”)
DeepGreenChain and recorded encrypted telephone calls with UC2 and UC3
On or about June 19, 2020, The Bull, UC-2, and UC-3 spoke by an encrypted voice call, which was recorded by UC-2. During that call….The Bull stated, in substance, that he intended for individuals to pay approximately $500 to $1,000 per month for a membership to the website, which would permit members access to bid on Inside Information, for which the bidders would then pay a commission.
June 25, 2020, The Bull, UC-2, and UC-3 spoke by an encrypted voice call, which was recorded by UC-2, and discussed further plans for the website… plans to verify the legitimacy of buyers and sellers of Inside Information. During that phone call, The Bull sent to UC-2 and UC-3 a link to the web address of a draft website, which could be accessed via TOR and which The Bull had labeled “DeepGreenChain.” UC-2 took screenshots of some of the pages of the website.
Please speak slower & louder the mic is super hot
I mean this is just comical to read but also kind of awesome that both FBI UC-2 and UC-3 kept The Bull on the hook for such a long period of time
The Bull, UC-2, and UC-3, I believe that this message reflects (a) The Bull’s commitment to pursuing the website on which he would sell misappropriated Inside Information (“I am looking to move forward”), (b) his interest in taking advantage of the period in which companies have assembled, but have not publicly disclosed, quarterly earnings information (“since the earning’s season is here’), and (c) thathe intended to solicit tips through posting on the Dark Web (“I compiled a list with all the possible places to advertise on the DW”).
July 31, 2020, The Bull, UC-2, and UC-3 spoke by an encrypted voice call, which was recorded by UC-2. During that call, the following occurred, among other things…The Bull stated, in substance, that the most important part of their efforts was to recruit “insiders.”…The Bull had spoken to an individual who could potentially provide Inside Information, but that The Bull believed that the Inside Information could not be verified and was not sufficiently accurate to use this individual as a provider of Inside Information
Will the real Apostolos Trovias “The Bull” please stand up…
Bruh the FBI got you dead to rights because they used a variety of blockchain analysis to study the inbound/outbound transactions from the BitCoin Wallet you provided them in 2018…
Also The Bull’s insider was full of malarkey
acquisition of Medidata by Dassault Systemes…individual had accurately disclosed that Dassault Systemes would acquire Medidata, that individual’s information arrived too late because (a) information regarding the potential acquisition had already leaked into the marketplace, causing Medidata’s stock price to rise (though not to the acquisition price), and (b) the individual’s information regarding the acquisition price was inaccurate…
An FBI management and program analyst specializing in cryptocurrency tracing has reviewed transaction data for approximately one payment sent by UC-1 to The Bull and approximately seventeen payments sent by UC-2 to The Bull (collectively, the “UC Payments”). Based on the analyst’s evaluation of the UC Payments, as well as a review of account records for various Bitcoin management and currency conversions services, such as Wirex Ltd., Coins.PH, and Shapeshift,
Just read page 19 - take it in -let it full consume you that Apostolos Trovias “The Bull” Vodaphone IP records and numerous cryptocurrency accounts he had opened with is
Apostolos Trovias from the Republic of Peru.
You see this is why you need to log into PACER and read every single (newky unsealed) filing - for example on May 27, 2021 the Government lodged;
ENDORSED LETTER (SDNY-ECF Doc No 5 or you can pull it down from my public drive) as to Apostolos Trovias addressed to Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses from AUSA Matthew Podolsky and Andrew Thomas dated 5/27/2021 re: USA v Apostoloss Trovias, 21 Mag 2220. The Government writes to respectfully request that the Court unseal the Complaint No, 21 Mag 2220 and the associated arrest warrant to the limited purposes.
As you’ll note the case was previously unsealed in March 2021 because Mexican authorities stated Trovias was located -but he was never arrested - then in May 2021 the Government received information that Trovias was in custody in Peru..
…the Court unseal Complaint No. 21 Mag. 2220 and the associated arrest warrant for the limited purpose of allowing the Government to pursue the extradition of defendant Apostolos Trovias from the Republic of Peru.
see pages 370 and 371 for the “in Force” with Peru via this State Department link or simple see the red boxes - because again I trust and respect my readers/followers enough to provide you with Original Documents and I find having the actual documents trump’s deranged and incoherent prognostications from a certain crew of disinformation and conspiracy “theories” Nah I much prefer facts
SEC Charges “TheBull” Apostolos Trovias with Selling "Insider Trading Tips"
July 9, 2021 SEC FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2021-122 …on the Dark Web - the SEC Complaint Reads in part that from at least December 2016 through early 2021, Trovias—operating under the pseudonym "TheBull"—engaged in a deceptive scheme to offer and sell so-called "insider trading tips" on Dark Web marketplaces to purchasers whom Trovias offered an unfair advantage for trading securities in the public markets…its largely reiterative to the DOJ announcement BUT it has a ton of additional facts and now you have access to the SEC Complaint too
And look I might provide way too much information but you can’t accuse me of not being thorough because I like files and I like facts…
✋➘🎤