On May 15, 2013, the SEC filed a civil action against RINO International Corporation, its CEO, Dejun "David" Zhou, and Chairman, Jianping "Amy" Qiu . The SEC complaint stated: "RINO International Corporation ('RINO' or 'Company'), RINO's chief executive officer, Dejun 'David' Zou ('Zou'), and RINO's chairman of the board, Jianping 'Amy' Qui ('Qui'), engaged in a scheme to overstate RINO's revenues and divert proceeds from a securities offering for personal uses.... As a result of this conduct, RINO's SEC filings for the 2008 to 2010 period contained materially false and misleading statements and omissions concerning RINO's revenue and operations."

On May 15, 2013, the SEC published a litigation release regarding its civil action against RINO International Corporation, its CEO and its Chairman. According to the release, in the complaint, the Commission alleged that the defendants "engaged in a scheme to overstate RINO's revenues and divert proceeds from a securities offering for their personal use in violation of the anti-fraud, reporting, books and records, and internal control provisions of the federal securities laws." The SEC further alleged that RINO's SEC filings contained materially false and misleading statements and omissions concerning RINO's revenue and operations between 2008 and 2010. In a settlement, RINO agreed to the entry of a judgment permanently enjoining it from violations of Section 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act.

On May 15, 2013, the SEC announced that it charged husband-and-wife executives Dejun "David" Zou ("Zou"), and Jianping "Amy" Qiu ("Qiu") at China-based RINO International Corporation ("RINO") with engaging in a scheme to overstate the company's revenues and divert proceeds from a securities offering for their personal use. Consequently, according to the SEC's complaint filed in federal court in Washington D.C., RINO's periodic filings contained false and misleading statements and omissions about the company's revenue and operations from 2008 to 2010. Without admitting or denying the allegations, RINO, Zou, and Qiu consented to the entry of a judgment permanently enjoining them from violations of the respective provisions of the securities laws. Zou and Qiu also agreed to pay monetary penalties and to consent to decade-long bars from serving as officers or directors of any company publicly traded in the U.S. The settlement is subject to court approval.

On May 29, 2013, Federal District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan entered final judgment against Defendants Rino International Corporation, Dejun "David" Zou, and Jianping "Amy" Qiu pursuant to the consent of the Defendants.