The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission won a preliminary injunction against a Montreal man it accused of running a penny stock fraud known as "scalping," and who regulators say enjoyed a lifestyle of multiple homes and expensive cars before he became a fugitive. U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty in Manhattan on Monday refused to disturb an asset freeze he had imposed on March 13 against the defendant John Babikian, and again ordered him to account for his assets and respond to the SEC's allegations. Babikian was 26 at the time of the freeze. "The evidence establishes a strong likelihood that Babikian committed securities fraud through the alleged pump and dump scheme," Crotty wrote. "There is also a high risk that, unless enjoined, Babikian may commit the alleged fraudulent acts again, given his control of penny stock websites and his aptitude at using anonymous email accounts, alter-ego front companies, and mass email distribution systems." Crotty also said that while "there
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