Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Insiders’ Friends Network on Trial



Remember the Psychic Friends Network?  Dealbook reports that the government has accused the two men of receiving inside information through a “circle of friends” who exchanged information about technology companies. Mr. Chiasson is charged with reaping the largest profits for his hedge fund — about $57 million — by shorting Dell shares before a negative earnings announcement in August 2008. Mr. Newman is also accused of trading in Dell at the same time, but in much smaller amounts.

The information was passed around among a group of analysts who have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate in the case. Unlike other recent insider trading cases, however, the government does not have wiretaps or other consensual recordings to show how the tips made their way to Mr. Chiasson and Mr. Newman. Thus, the case will ride on whether analysts who worked for the two defendants are believable witnesses for the prosecution…..

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