Biographical Information

Recent Significant Prosecutions Led by the Office of Internet Enforcement

Honors

Publications

Biographical Information

John Reed Stark serves as Chief of the Office of Internet Enforcement (OIE) in the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Mr. Stark’s job entails the direction, coordination and implementation of the Enforcement Division’s Internet Program together with the investigation of many of the leads collected by the SEC's Online Enforcement Complaint Center (the bulk of which are leads pertaining to non-Internet related matters parsed from the over 8,000 daily complaints and tips emailed to the SEC Enforcement Division). 

In April of 2004, the Director of the SEC Division of Enforcement appointed Mr. Stark the additional title of Counselor to the Director, which entails coordinating external relations for the enforcement division, including acting as special liaison with the SEC's Office of Public Affairs, researching and drafting speeches for the director, handling media inquiries and providing a range of advice on external relations matters. 

Mr. Stark is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center where, for the past twelve years, he has taught a course on advanced securities regulation.  Mr. Stark has also published a wide range of articles on SEC issues and serves as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Litigation Section Subcommittee on Securities Law and the Internet.

Mr. Stark received his original appointment to direct the Internet Program in late 1995, and is the first and only person to hold the position.  In July of 1998, Mr. Stark was promoted to the new position of Chief of OIE.  OIE, now a team of about twenty-five professionals (almost exclusively attorneys), conducts investigations and prosecutions of securities violations, specializing in those that involve technology (including coordinating five nationwide sweeps). Approximately 60% of OIE's investigations are gathered from the

SEC's Online Enforcement Complaint Center and unrelated to the Internet, involving a range of securities fraud including hedge fund fraud, unlawful insider trading, market manipulations, debt offering fraud and other securities violations.

Mr. Stark has also served as an FBI Instructor at Quantico Marine Training Facility for nine years and also acts as spokesman for the SEC's Internet Program, frequently quoted in major periodicals and participating in television and radio interviews.  Mr. Stark also founded and manages a range of divisional operational program segments including:  the SEC's Online Enforcement Complaint Center; the Internet search engine program, the early intervention program, the CyberForce program, the CTR (complaints, tips, referrals) program, and the division's state referral program. He also coordinated and ran several securities fraud training programs, including several CyberSecurities Forums attended by hundreds of members of the law enforcement and regulatory community.

Mr. Stark began with the Enforcement staff in September 1991 with a brief eight month interruption to serve a detail as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  As an AUSA, Mr. Stark prosecuted street crimes mostly pertaining to guns, drugs and domestic violence.  Prior to joining the SEC, Mr. Stark worked as an associate for the law firm of Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin and Kahn where he focused on business-related litigation.

Mr. Stark received his law degree from Duke University School of Law in 1989, where he reached the finals of the Hardt Cup and the finals of a national moot court competition.  He also served on Duke's Moot Court Executive Board during his second year and as its Vice-Chair during his third year.

Mr. Stark received his undergraduate degree (cum laude) in Political Science from Union College in 1986, where he graduated with departmental honors, was awarded an honors designation for his senior thesis, was appointed to the Pi Sigma Alpha political science honors society and was a Stanley R. Becker Scholar.

Significant SEC Enforcement Matters Led By the Office of Internet Enforcement

Honors

Recipient, 2007 Stanley Sporkin Award (granted to SEC staff member for tenacious and insightful contribution to SEC Enforcement))

Recipient, 2004 Duke University School of Law's Young Alumni Award (granted to one Duke law graduate each year for his or her significant contributions of leadership and service both professionally and to Duke Law School)

One of 2002’s “Online Finance Forty” as compiled by Institutional Investor (sole government designee)

Recipient, 2001 SEC Supervisory Excellence Award

One of  “Ten to Watch in 1999: The People and the Companies Bringing Business to the Net” as compiled by The Industry Standard (sole government designee)

#11 of  “20 Most Important Players on Financial Web in 1997” as compiled by Institutional Investor (sole government designee)

"Top Regulator of 1997" and Runner-up "Internet Compliance Person of the Year" in Internet Compliance Alert

Publications   (Adobe Reader sometimes required)

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