About Joseph Darragh
Microcap Fraud
Subject Matter Expert
Complex securities matters aren’t won by credentials alone. They’re won by people who understand how microcap fraud actually works, who know where to focus, and who have the technical skill to cut through the noise.
Investigator. Developer. Certified Fraud Examiner.
Joe Darragh combines three disciplines rarely found in one practitioner: hands-on investigative experience from inside the SEC, the skills of a developer and data scientist, and deep subject-matter expertise in microcap fraud.
It’s a proven framework developed over a career spent running complex, cross-border investigations into pump-and-dump schemes, market manipulation, and illegal securities distributions.
The work earned multiple SEC Director’s Awards, the Chairman’s Award, and recognition from the FBI for his role in one of the largest offshore securities fraud cases the Bureau has prosecuted.
Leadership
- Principal Investigator, SEC Microcap Fraud Task Force (2013-2022)
- Co-Chair of Microcap Fraud Microcap Fraud Working Group (2019-2022)
- Speaker, FINRA’s National Cause Financial Crimes Threat Intelligence Panel (2020)
- Founding Member, Alberta Securities Commission Cross-Border Microcap Fraud Initiative (2017-2022)
- Contributor & Microcap Subject Matter Expert, “Outcomes of Investing in OTC Stocks” White Paper by Joshua White (2016)
- Founding Member, Dark Web Working Group (2016-2022)
- Microcap Fraud Subject Matter Expert, DARPA Memex Project (2015-2016)
Recognition
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Director’s Award (2020): For outstanding contribution to SEC v. Honig, et al.; SEC v. William Scott Lawler and Natalie Bannister
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Analytics Innovation Award Nominee (2019)
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman’s Award (2019): In recognition for NYRO’s Community-Based Fraud Conference to serve the interests of main street investors
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission New York Regional Office Charles O. LeRoux Awarrd (2018): In recognition of extraordinary contributions to the NYRO and the SEC as a whole.
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Director’s Award (2018): For outstanding contribution to SEC v. Beaufort Securities Ltd.
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Director’s Award (2017): For outstanding contribution to SEC v. Lin; SEC v. Contrarian Press et al.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Recognition for Outstanding Assistance in United States v. Robert Bandfield, et al.
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Director’s Award (2016): For outstanding contribution to Microcap Fraud Task Force
Credentials
Learn more about Joe’s credentials below.
Admissions
- Certified Fraud Examiner (2013-Present)
Education
- Associates in Marketing from Westchester Community College (2006)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with a Minor in Economics from Pace Lubin School of Business, graduated with honors (2009)
- Master’s in Accountancy from University of Phoenix (2010)
Clear evidence. Credible analysis.
Defensible conclusions.
When your matter requires an investigator who combines field experience, data science, and purpose-built technology, the result is analysis that holds up.
OTC Markets Research
Contributing expert on the SEC's landmark study of OTC investor outcomes.
Joe served as contributor and microcap subject-matter expert for Outcomes of Investing in OTC Stocks, a white paper by the SEC’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis analyzing retail-investor harm in the OTC markets.
Authored by Joshua White, the study established the empirical foundation for understanding how retail investors are harmed in OTC markets. Findings that directly informed regulatory policy and market reform.
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