On November 15, the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a report highlighting its 2018 enforcement priorities and its enforcement results for 2017. In the report, the Enforcement Division stated the five core principles that will guide enforcement in 2018: 1) focus on the Main Street investor; 2) focus on individual accountability; 3) keep pace with technological changes; 4) impose sanctions that most effectively further enforcement goals; and 5) constantly assess the allocation of resources.

In 2017, the Enforcement Division brought 754 enforcement actions, including 446 stand-alone actions, which returned a record $1.07 billion to harmed investors. In total, the SEC obtained judgements and orders totaling more than $3.789 billion in disgorgement and penalties.

More information is available here and the report itself is available here.

This post was written by Timothy D. Nolan.