2 Indian Americans among six charged for generating USD 1.7 million illegally in Silicon Valley insider trading

Washington: Two Indian Americans were among six members of a Silicon Valley trading ring against which the US Securities and Exchange Commission has slapped charges for generating nearly USD 1.7 million in illegal profits by trading on the confidential earnings information of two local technology companies.

According to the SEC complaint on Tuesday (June 16), Nathaniel Brown, 49, who served as the revenue recognition manager for Infinera Corporation, repeatedly tipped Infinera's unannounced quarterly earnings and financial performance to his best friend, Benjamin Wylam, 42, from April 2016 until Brown left the company in November 2017.

The Commission, which enforces laws against market manipulation, alleged that Wylam, a high school teacher and bookmaker, traded on this information and also tipped Naveen Sood, 49, who owed Wylam a six-figure gambling debt.

Sood allegedly traded on this information and tipped his three friends Marcus Bannon, 47; Matthew Rauch, 47; and Naresh Ramaiya, 41; each of whom also illegally traded on the information. Sood and Ramaiya are Indian Americans.

Infinera Corporation is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. Infinera provides networking solutions in the telecommunications sector.

Fortinet Inc is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. Fortinet provides cybersecurity solutions.

The SEC alleged that Bannon tipped Sood with material, nonpublic information concerning Bannon's employer, Fortinet Inc.

According to the SEC complaint, Bannon learned in early October 2016 that Fortinet was going to unexpectedly announce preliminary negative financial results.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Delta variant, first found in India, doubles risk of hospitalisation: Study

Bannon allegedly tipped this information to Sood, who used it to trade. After learning the information, Sood allegedly tipped Wylam and Ramaiya, who also traded.

Using sophisticated data analysis, the SEC was able to uncover this insider trading ring and hold each of its participants accountable to ensure the integrity of our markets, said Joseph Sansone, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division's Market Abuse Unit.

The SEC charged Brown, Wylam, Sood, Bannon, Rauch and Ramaiya with violating the Securities Exchange Act.

Bannon, Rauch, and Ramaiya consented to the entry of final judgments without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint.

While Bannon agreed to pay a civil penalty of USD 281,497, Rauch agreed to pay USD 128,230 and Ramaiya USD 65,780.

Sood also consented to the entry of a final judgment and agreed to pay a civil penalty of USD 178,320.

Wylam has consented to a permanent injunction with civil penalties, if any, to be decided later by the court. The SEC's litigation against Brown is continuing.

In parallel proceedings, the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced related criminal charges against Brown, Wylam and Sood. 

ALSO READ: US, worst COVID-19 hit country, touches grim milestone of over 6 lakh deaths