---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001493152-24-010998"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001119643"
company_name: "NUTRA PHARMA CORP"
filed_at: "2024-03-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-04T08:58:31.181077+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Nutra Pharma CEO Rik Deitsch resigns amid SEC settlement; Dr. Michael Flax appointed CEO/CFO/Chairman

## Summary
- Rik Deitsch resigned as CEO, Director, Chairman, and CFO effective March 19, 2024, due to SEC settlement.
- SEC settlement permanently enjoins company, Deitsch, and McManus from securities law violations; 3-year officer/director and penny stock bars for Deitsch.
- Disgorgement and civil penalties for all defendants, and a possible penny stock bar for McManus, left for later court resolution.
- Dr. Michael Flax appointed CEO, CFO, and Chairman effective March 20, 2024; previously served as CEO of Nutra Pharma from 2001-2002.
- Rik Deitsch remains as Operations Manager, reporting to VP of Operations Joe Lucas.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001493152-24-010998
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001119643
- company_name: NUTRA PHARMA CORP
- filed_at: 2024-03-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1119643/000149315224010998/0001493152-24-010998-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1119643/000149315224010998/form8-k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001493152-24-010998
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001493152-24-010998.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001493152-24-010998.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Rik J. Deitsch resigned as Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Financial Officer at NUTRA PHARMA CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On March 19, 2024, Mr. Deitsch submitted a letter of resignation to our Board of Directors and thereby resigned as Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Financial Officer of Nutra Pharma Corp., effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1119643/000149315224010998/0001493152-24-010998-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael Flax was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer at NUTRA PHARMA CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On March 20, 2024, our Board of Directors unanimously approved of the appointment of Michael Flax, DDS as our Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1119643/000149315224010998/0001493152-24-010998-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.