United States v. Bryan Behrens

GRUENDER, Circuit Judge.

Bryan Behrens pled guilty to one count of securities fraud in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78ff and 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (“Rule 10b-5”). The district court 1 sentenced Behrens to five years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $6,841,921.90. Behrens appeals his sentence, arguing that because he had no knowledge his conduct violated Rule lob-5, imprisonment is not a permissible sentencing option. We affirm the district court’s sentence.

I

Behrens owned and operated 21st Century Financial Group, Inc., a life insurance…