Andy Altahawi

Key Points

• Research suggests Andy Altahawi has a long career in investment banking and law, but it seems likely his reputation is tainted by fraud allegations.
• The evidence leans toward his involvement in the Longfin Corp. scandal, leading to significant SEC penalties and a five-year ban from public company roles.
• It appears he has tried to suppress negative information, raising concerns about transparency and misconduct.
• The data indicates high risks for anti-money laundering and reputation, especially for businesses considering partnerships with him.

Background

Andy Altahawi is an experienced investment banker and international attorney, claiming over 27 years in banking and more than 30 years in law. He leads Adamson Brothers Corp., focusing on IPOs, mergers, and capital raising, with expertise in NASDAQ and NYSE listings.

Business and Legal Issues

Altahawi’s career is marred by his role in the Longfin Corp. scandal, where the SEC charged him with unregistered share distributions and misrepresentations to Nasdaq. He settled by paying a $2.9 million fine, returning $21 million in profits, and accepting a five-year ban from public company officer or director positions, effective from 2019. Additionally, he is linked to Aurigraph DLT Corp. as a board advisor.

Risks and Concerns

Research suggests his actions, including alleged attempts to erase negative media via fraudulent DMCA notices, pose high risks for anti-money laundering due to potential money laundering of illicit profits. Reputational risks are significant, given the public nature of the SEC case and negative reviews highlighting misconduct.

Survey Note: Comprehensive Investigation into Andy Altahawi’s Business and Legal Entanglements

In our detailed examination, conducted as of 03:48 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, we have delved into the professional life, business relations, and legal challenges surrounding Andy Altahawi, an investment banker and international attorney. This investigation aims to uncover all business relations, personal profiles, open-source intelligence (OSINT), undisclosed relationships, scam reports, red flags, allegations, criminal proceedings, lawsuits, sanctions, adverse media, negative reviews, consumer complaints, bankruptcy details, and provide a thorough risk assessment in relation to anti-money laundering (AML) investigations and reputational risks. Our findings are based on a range of credible sources, including SEC documents, professional profiles, and investigative reports, ensuring a comprehensive overview.

Personal and Professional Background

Andy Altahawi portrays himself as a seasoned professional with over 27 years of experience in investment banking and more than 30 years as an international attorney, licensed in several jurisdictions, including Egypt, with reciprocal arrangements but not in California. His LinkedIn profile (Andy Altahawi LinkedIn) highlights expertise in direct NASDAQ and NYSE public listings, IPOs, Regulation A+, and mergers and acquisitions (M&As), among other SEC regulatory filings. His personal website, andyaltahawi.com, further details his role as a securities and legal consultant, advising on corporate governance, capital raising, and contracts, serving both public and private corporations as well as startups.

His professional journey includes significant roles, such as president of Adamson Brothers Corp., a financing advisory and private equity firm he founded in 1998, which grew to ten offices and employed about 300 people by 2018, according to an Influencive article (Mr. Andy Altahawi, Helping Startups Open Their Doors). This firm specializes in helping companies go public, with notable deals including advising Aurigraph DLT Corp on NASDAQ listing, as reported in a 2022 news release (Adamson Brothers Signs Deals to List Aurigraph on the NASDAQ).

Business Relations and Associations

Altahawi’s business network is extensive, primarily centered around Adamson Brothers Corp., which advises on reverse mergers, private placements, and IPO processes. A key association is with Longfin Corp., a cryptocurrency company where he served as corporate secretary and board advisor, implicated in a significant fraud case. Another notable relation is with Aurigraph DLT Corp, where he joined as a board advisor, focusing on decentralized ledger technology, as mentioned in a 2022 LinkedIn post (Aurigraph DLT wishes you a happy and Prosperous 2023!). Additionally, he operates ipoflow.com, a platform for Regulation A+ offerings, as seen in press releases discussing SEC rulings (IPOFLOW: Examining the significance of the SEC’s loss in declaring the Blockvest ICO token a security).

Undisclosed relationships may include his role in facilitating share acquisitions from private parties unable to open US brokerage accounts, as per his response to the SEC case, suggesting potential hidden ties that could raise transparency concerns.

Legal Issues and Allegations

The most prominent legal issue is the SEC’s action against Altahawi related to Longfin Corp., detailed in a 2018 complaint (SEC.gov | Longfin Corp. and Venkata S. Meenavalli, Longfin et. al). The SEC alleged he participated in a fraudulent scheme, distributing over 400,000 shares to insiders without payment and misrepresenting shareholder numbers to Nasdaq, leading to an asset freeze of over $27 million. The complaint, filed under seal on April 4, 2018, and unsealed on April 6, charged violations of Sections 5, 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b), Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. In 2019, he settled, agreeing to disgorge $21 million, pay a $2.9 million civil penalty, and accept a five-year ban from serving as an officer or director of an SEC reporting issuer, as noted in a final judgment (SEC v. Andy Altahawi: Final Judgment (’24M Penalties & Director/Officer Ban’) – OffshoreAlert).

Further allegations, as per an investigation report from cybercriminal.com, suggest he suppressed critical reviews and unfavorable search results using fraudulent DMCA takedown notices, potentially constituting perjury, fraud, and impersonation. This report, published on March 27, 2025, details tactics like SEO campaigns, legal threats, and defamation lawsuits to erase negative press, with evidence links to Lumen database notices (Lumen Database Notices) and Offshore Alert articles (‘Remove libelous content’, writes banned director Andy Altahawi – OffshoreAlert).

Scam Reports, Red Flags, and Adverse Media

The investigation report highlights several red flags, including stock manipulation, legal and regulatory scrutiny, and lack of transparency, as seen in the Longfin case where Longfin recorded $66 million in sham revenue, nearly 90% of its 2017 total, according to SEC.gov | SEC Adds Fraud Charges Against Purported Cryptocurrency Company Longfin, CEO, and Consultant. Negative reviews, based on eight ratings (six at 2, two at 1), comment on a pattern of misconduct and abuse of DMCA, as summarized in the report. Adverse media includes articles from Reuters and Crowdfund Insider detailing the fraud charges (U.S. charges ex-CEO of cryptocurrency company Longfin with $66 million fraud | Reuters, SEC Hits Blockchain Company Longfin With Additional Fraud Charges Related To Reg A+ Offering, Longfin CEO Hit With Criminal Charges | Crowdfund Insider).

Consumer complaints are not extensively documented, but the negative reviews suggest dissatisfaction among stakeholders. No specific scam reports beyond the SEC case were found on platforms like Ripoff Report, though the investigation report’s findings indicate potential for further scrutiny.

Criminal Proceedings, Lawsuits, and Sanctions

No criminal charges were found against Altahawi, with criminal proceedings limited to Longfin’s CEO, Venkata Meenavalli, as per U.S. charges ex-CEO of cryptocurrency company Longfin with $66 million fraud | Reuters. The SEC case remains the primary lawsuit, with no other court cases identified in our search. Sanctions include the aforementioned five-year ban and financial penalties, effective from the 2019 settlement.

Bankruptcy Details

No bankruptcy details were found for Altahawi or associated entities, suggesting no public records of insolvency at this time.

Risk Assessment

From an AML perspective, Altahawi’s involvement in financial fraud, particularly the illicit profits from Longfin (over $29 million in share sales profits, as per the SEC complaint), raises concerns about potential money laundering activities. While no direct evidence was found, the nature of the fraud suggests a risk of laundering to conceal gains, especially given his role in structuring financial transactions. His attempts to suppress negative information, as per the investigation report, indicate deceptive behavior, a red flag for AML compliance.

Reputational risks are significant, given the public nature of the SEC case and negative media coverage. Associating with Altahawi could lead to regulatory scrutiny, investor distrust, and negative publicity, particularly for financial institutions or public companies. His five-year ban limits his ability to hold officer or director roles, potentially impacting business operations and partnerships.

Detailed Tables

Below is a summary of key legal and financial details from the investigation:

Expert Opinion and Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive analysis, Andy Altahawi presents a high risk profile for both AML and reputational concerns. His past involvement in the Longfin Corp. fraud, coupled with allegations of suppressing negative information, suggests a pattern of unethical behavior that could endanger associated parties. While he maintains a public stance of cooperation with regulatory bodies, as seen in his response to the SEC case (Adamson Brothers’ Andy Altahawi Responds to Recent SEC Case. – Free Online Library), the evidence leans toward significant risks. We recommend extreme caution and thorough due diligence for any business or individual considering engagement, emphasizing the need for robust AML checks and reputation management strategies.

Key Citations

• SEC Litigation Release on Longfin Corp. and Executives
• SEC Complaint Against Longfin Corp. et al
• OffshoreAlert Article on Altahawi’s Libel Request
• Cybercriminal Investigation Report on Andy Altahawi
• Andy Altahawi’s LinkedIn Profile
• Adamson Brothers Corporate Website
• Aurigraph DLT Corp About Us Page
• Lumen Database Notices Related to Altahawi
• Mr. Andy Altahawi, Helping Startups Open Their Doors Article
• Adamson Brothers Signs Deals to List Aurigraph on NASDAQ News
• IPOFLOW Press Release on Blockvest ICO
• U.S. Charges Ex-CEO of Longfin with Fraud Article
• SEC Adds Fraud Charges Against Longfin Press Release
• SEC Hits Longfin with Additional Fraud Charges Article
• Aurigraph DLT LinkedIn Post on 2023 Prospects
• Altahawi’s Response to SEC Case Press Release
• SEC Final Judgment Against Altahawi Document
• Second Amended Complaint Against Altahawi Document