The SEC announced charges and a settlement with Michael Rothenberg, the founder of Rothenberg Ventures. The SEC charged Rothenberg with overcharging investors to fund personal projects. Rothenberg did not admit or deny the allegations in the settlement. Rothenberg will be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business for five years. Michael Rothenberg, the founder of a flashy San Francisco VC firm that imploded under a cloud of controversy in 2016, has settled charges with federal regulators alleging that he misappropriated millions of dollars from investors.