Burnaby Woman sentenced to probation, including house arrest, for violating BCSC order

VANCOUVER, BC, June 30, 2020 /CNW/ - A Burnaby woman has been sentenced to one year of probation, including 90 days of house arrest, after being convicted of violating an order of the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC).

Enna Keller pleaded guilty on June 25 in B.C. Provincial Court in Vancouver to two counts of trading in a security and/or acting in a consultative capacity in connection with activities in the security market, despite being permanently banned by the BCSC from doing so in 2017.

The charges were approved in 2019 by the BC Prosecution Service following an investigation by the BCSC's Criminal Investigations Branch.

The BCSC panel issued the order banning Keller from trading in securities, among other things, after it found that she committed fraud, unregistered trading and breaches of both permanent and temporary cease trade orders for her role in raising approximately US$3.2 million from roughly 315 investors. The panel found that she and one other person offered securities relating to Lexicon Building Systems Ltd., a manufacturing company that has been the subject of a cease trade order by BCSC staff since October 2009.

After the BCSC decision, two of the victims contacted Keller to demand the return of money they invested with Lexicon. Instead, Keller provided the victims' information to Lexicon and instructed it to issue shares to the victims. By doing so, she breached the BCSC order against trading in securities.

The judge cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the non-violent nature of Keller's offence in sentencing her to probation, which includes 90 days of house arrest. During house arrest, Keller is confined to her residence and only permitted to leave once a week for three hours, only for essential activities or medical reasons.

About the British Columbia Securities Commission (www.bcsc.bc.ca)

The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act. Our mission is to protect and promote the public interest by fostering:

• A securities market that is fair and warrants public confidence
• A dynamic and competitive securities industry that provides investment opportunities and access to capital

Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at www.investright.org

SOURCE British Columbia Securities Commission