SECURITIES

SEC Accuses Long Beach Broker: Hovhanness K. Freeland, 27, and his company, H. K. Freeland & Co. of Long Beach, were accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission of violating securities laws in penny stock trades. Simultaneously, the SEC announced that Freeland and his firm had entered into a partial settlement that will result in the firm’s liquidation. The civil lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleged that Freeland had an agreement with unidentified parties to solicit customers to buy penny stock in U.S. Environmental Inc. of West Chester, Pa.