SEC Charges Ex-Carter's Executive with Fraud

A former sales executive at clothing marketer Carter's committed financial fraud by manipulating the amount of discounts granted to one of the company's largest customers, U.S. securities regulators alleged in a civil lawsuit.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday accused Joseph Elles, a former executive vice president at Carter's, of concealing the discounts from the company's accountants, the lawsuit said.

Elles's attorney was not immediately available to comment.

Carter's entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the SEC and will not be charged with any violations of federal securities laws, regulators said in a statement.

That agreement reflects Carter's "exemplary and extensive cooperation" in the investigation, the SEC said.

Carter's did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.