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USA v. Rothenberg

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Case overview

Case Number:

4:20-cr-00266

See also:

Court:

California Northern

Nature of Suit:

Judge:

Jon S. Tigar

Firms

Government Agencies

  1. May 17, 2024

    Judge Doubts 9th Circ. Ruling Upends VC's Fraud Conviction

    A California federal judge appeared skeptical Friday of convicted self-described "millennial" venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg's renewed request for a new trial or acquittal in light of a recent Ninth Circuit decision clarifying "materiality" in the federal criminal fraud statutes, doubting that Rothenberg was prejudiced by jury instructions addressing materiality.

  2. March 01, 2024

    Judge Doubts Drowsy Juror, Mask Rules Warrant New VC Trial

    A California federal judge expressed doubts Friday over claims that self-described "millennial" venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg deserves a new trial because of a drowsy juror and the court's COVID-19 mask rules, saying he disagrees that the juror was asleep and "welcomes" the Ninth Circuit's guidance on courtroom-masking requirements.

  3. November 16, 2023

    Silicon Valley's 'Party Animal' VC Convicted Of Fraud

    A California federal jury on Thursday convicted self-described "millennial" venture capitalist and "Silicon Valley's party animal" Michael Rothenberg of fraud and money laundering charges, wrapping a monthslong trial over allegations that he duped investors and the now-defunct Silicon Valley Bank into funding his virtual reality startup and over-the-top events.

  4. November 06, 2023

    'Millennial' VC Demoted Partner And Hid Financials, Jury Told

    Michael Rothenberg's former fraternity brother testified in the self-described "millennial" venture capitalist's criminal fraud trial Monday that he helped Rothenberg launch his firm by investing $250,000 as a partner, but said Rothenberg quickly demoted him and kept him in the dark about how the firm was spending money.

  5. November 01, 2023

    'I Felt Like We Had Been Conned,' Atty Testifies In VC Trial

    An attorney who is the CEO of a billionaire's family firm testified in venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg's criminal fraud trial Wednesday that Rothenberg tried to change terms of their $2 million investment in his virtual reality startup before admitting he didn't own it, saying, "I felt like we had been conned."

  6. October 31, 2023

    Millennial VC Used 'Frenetic' Pressure Tactics, Jury Hears

    The chief investment officer of a billionaire's family firm testified in self-described "millennial venture capitalist" Michael Rothenberg's criminal fraud trial Tuesday, saying he created a "frenetic environment" to push the firm to invest quickly, never disclosing he was using VC funds to pay for his virtual reality startup.

  7. October 30, 2023

    Millennial VC 'Upset' By Due Diligence Deal Delays, Jury Told

    A witness testified in Millennial venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg's criminal fraud trial Monday that he helped solicit $3 million in funding for Rothenberg's firm and virtual reality startup, saying Rothenberg would call him repeatedly, "upset and hyper-concerned" that due diligence was taking too long, and Rothenberg later refused to pay him commissions.

  8. October 25, 2023

    Oculus Co-Founder Says VC Firm Used Him To Lure Investors

    The co-founder of Meta's virtual reality company Oculus on Wednesday testified in "Millennial" venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg's criminal fraud trial that he wouldn't have invested $1.25 million in Rothenberg's firm had he known it paid for Rothenberg's VR company, and he complained when the firm used his name to attract investors.

  9. October 24, 2023

    VC Firm Owner Duped Investors With Unicorn Deal, Jury Told

    Father and son investors testified in Michael Rothenberg's criminal fraud trial Tuesday that they were pressured into quickly investing $1 million into Rothenberg's co-fund with a pre-IPO unicorn without signing paperwork, but they needed lawyers to recover their investment after Rothenberg claimed it wasn't intended for the co-fund.

  10. October 23, 2023

    HTC Exec Testifies VC Founder Hid His Conflicts Of Interest

    An HTC Corp. executive testified in Michael Rothenberg's criminal fraud trial Monday that the tech company would have never invested $2 million into Rothenberg's venture capital firm in 2015 had he known Rothenberg invested its money into his own virtual reality company, saying such self-dealing constitutes a conflict of interest.

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