Rose Romero, Director of the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office, will be leaving the agency in mid-April after 21 years of government service as a federal prosecutor and securities regulator.  She's planning to practice law in the private sector.  Since 2006, Ms. Romero has overseen all aspects of the office’s operations including its enforcement, regulation, and litigation programs. 

Here are some enforcement highlights from Ms. Romero’s leadership: 

• FCPA cases:  $138mn penalty levied against Swiss global logistics firm Panalpina Inc.; $10mn penalty imposed against Houston-based Willbros Group; $23mn penalty against Houston-based Pride International. 
  

• Insider trading cases:  Acxiom Corporation, which involved an elaborate scheme orchestrated by hedge fund insiders to illegally trade in the securities of Acxiom and Tempur-Pedic International;  former Perot Systems Inc. employee, who made $8mn in illicit profits re: Dell’s proposed acquisition of Perot Systems;  a NY-based securities analyst employed by a major investment bank, who disclosed inside information ahead of the $45mn buyout of TXU. 
  

• Offering fraud cases:  $100mn Millennium Bank Ponzi scheme; $55mn fraud perpetrated by Amerifirst Funding and principal Jeffrey Bruteyn;  $33mn fraud case against Francesco Rusciano and Ponta Negra Fund 1 LLC, in which most of investors’ funds were recovered.   [SEC PR 11-63, 11/9]