United States v. Jonathan William Mikula, Christian Fernandez, and Amit Raj Beri

Court Docket Number: 2:24-CR-63-SB (C.D. Cal.)

Court Assigned: This case is assigned to United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., who is located at the United States Courthouse, 350 W. 1st St., Courtroom 6C (sixth floor), Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Criminal Charge: On January 29, 2024, Jonathan William Mikula, Christian Fernandez, and Amit Raj Beri were charged by information with a criminal conspiracy to tout securities for undisclosed compensation; Mikula was also charged with touting securities for undisclosed compensation. Mikula, Fernandez, and Beri have pleaded guilty to these charges and await sentencing.

According to the allegations in the charges, and knowing that placement within and promotion by an investor newsletter called Palm Beach Venture permitted securities issuers to reach additional investors and raise additional funds, and knowing that Palm Beach Venture would make the materially misleading representation that neither it “nor its affiliates receive compensation for bringing this deal to you,” defendant Mikula agreed with his codefendants and others to write and place articles and other promotional pieces regarding the securities of specific issuers on the understanding and agreement that such issuers and their associates would pay undisclosed direct and indirect compensation to him, defendants Fernandez and Beri, and others.

For more information about the charge, please see below:
[Link to press release]

If you believe you were directly and proximately harmed as a result of these crimes or otherwise wish to assert rights under the Crime Victim Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771, including the right to confer with the government concerning this case, please email: USACAC.USvMikulaetal@usdoj.gov.

The information on this website will be updated as new developments arise in the case.

Upcoming Proceedings

• A sentencing hearing for defendant Amit Raj Beri is scheduled for 8 a.m. PST on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Courtroom 6C (sixth floor) before United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., 350 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
• A sentencing hearing for defendant Christian Fernandez is scheduled for 8 a.m. PST on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Courtroom 6C (sixth floor) before United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., 350 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
• A sentencing hearing for defendant Jonathan William Mikula is scheduled for 8 a.m. PST on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, in Courtroom 6C (sixth floor) before United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., 350 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.