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TWO MORE GALLEON RELATED INSIDER TRADING CASES

T. GormanPosted on Posted in SECActions

As the Galleon trial approaches the insider trading ring that that began with two Ropes and Gray associates and the Galleon investigation keep spawning insider trading cases. Two new SEC civil insider trading actions and a criminal case were filed.

In SEC v. Smith, Civil Action No. 11-CV-0535 (S.D.N.Y. Filed Jan. 26, 2011) the Commission brought an action against Adam Smith, a former portfolio manger of the Galleon Emerging Technology funds. The complaint, which alleges violations of Exchange Act Section 10(b), states that Mr. Smith obtained inside information about a then pending transaction in which Advanced Micro Devices Inc. or ADM would take over ATI Technologies, Inc. The information came from a source that Mr. Smith had known for years. While in possession of the information Mr. Smith caused the Galleon funds he advised to purchase ATI shares. Those shares were later sold at a profit of over $1.3 million.

In a second case the SEC charged Michael Cardillo, a former trader at Galleon Management, LP, with insider trading. SEC v. Cardillo, Civil Action No. 11-CV-11 civ 0549 (S.D.N.Y. Filed Jan 26, 2011). Mr. Cardillo is alleged to have traded while in possession of inside information about the acquisitions of 3Com and Axcan. As a result of that trading the fund made over $730,000 in trading profits.

Two Ropes and Grey associates are the source of the information according to the complaint. Former firm attorneys Arthur Cutillo and Brien Santarias misappropriated the information about the two deals. They then tipped Zivi Goffer, a former trader at Schottenfeld Group LLC known as “Octopussy” because of his many sources of information. Mr. Goffer in turn furnished the information to a trader who worked in the Galleon offices, who furnished it to Mr. Cardillo.

Previously, Mr. Cardillo pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Messrs. Cutillo and Santarias were named as defendants in a suit brought by the SEC and pleaded guilty to criminal charges. The Galleon criminal trial begins late next month.

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