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-Lurid Crime Tales-
SEC Charges Mark Cuban With Insider Trading
2008-11-17
Cuban was a big funder for the Democrats, particularly hard left Democrats, and the Obama campaign. One set of rules for them, another for the rest of us. I'm going to enjoy this one ...
The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Dallas Mavericks owner and internet entrepreneur Mark Cuban with insider trading.

The complaint claims that in 2004 Cuban learned of a private offering of Mamma.com (now known as Copernic) that would decrease the value of his 600,000 shares. It says he then sold off his stake and as a result, reportedly saved $750,000. "As we allege in the complaint, Mamma.com entrusted Mr. Cuban with nonpublic information after he promised to keep the information confidential. Less than four hours later, Mr. Cuban betrayed that trust by placing an order to sell all of his shares," said Scott W. Friestad, deputy director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement."It is fundamentally unfair for someone to use access to nonpublic information to improperly gain an edge on the market."

Cuban has responded to the complaint and posted a brief statement on his blog Monday afternoon denying the allegations. "I am disappointed that the Commission chose to bring this case based upon its Enforcement staff's win-at-any-cost ambitions. The staff's process was result-oriented, facts be damned. The government's claims are false and they will be proven to be so," he said.

The post also includes a statement from his lawyer, Ralph C. Ferrara, Esq. with Dewey Cheatham and Howe & LeBoeuf LLP, saying the matter "has no merit and is a product of gross abuse of prosecutorial discretion," and "that the Commission's claims are infected by the misconduct of the staff of its Enforcement Division."

Cuban, who is involved in a number of ventures and is currently trying to buy the Chicago Cubs baseball team, is also the majority partner of sharesleuth.com, an independent web-based reporting site aimed at exposing securities fraud and corporate chicanery.
Wonder if they have anything on this, heh ...
Posted by:Steve White

#5  Thanks for mentioning our firm. At Dewey Cheatham & Howe, we aim to deliver the best results for our clients, and of course ourselves, regardless of how much damage it does to others. We'll keep it up. Your kind thoughts truly boost our spirits.
Posted by: Dewey Cheatham & Howe   2008-11-17 20:50  

#4  Mark, ask for the Martha Stewart suite, it's supposed to be nicely decorated.
Posted by: DMFD   2008-11-17 20:38  

#3  Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Posted by: KBK   2008-11-17 20:16  

#2  'Seedy politicians', according to Fred, includes their enablers, so I think Cuban is in (along with MoDo ...)
Posted by: Steve White   2008-11-17 18:21  

#1  I don't think this article belongs in this section. While seedy politicians are always douchebags, douchebags, like Cuban, are not always politicians.
Posted by: Scott R   2008-11-17 18:14  

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