FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 23289 / June 17, 2015
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Eric McPhail, et al., Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-12958 (District of Massachusetts, Complaint filed July 11, 2014)
United States v. Eric McPhail and Douglas Parigian, 1:14-cr-10201-DJC (District of Massachusetts filed July 9, 2014)
Jury in Criminal Case Convicts Individual in Insider Trading Case Involving Group of Amateur Golfers
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that, on June 16, 2015, a federal jury in Massachusetts convicted Eric McPhail of criminal charges of conspiracy and securities fraud for his role in an insider trading ring that traded on inside information about Massachusetts-based American Superconductor Corporation. The criminal charges against McPhail arose out of the same fraudulent conduct for which the Commission instituted a securities fraud action against him and others during July 2014.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts indicted McPhail and another defendant, Douglas Parigian, in July 2014. The indictment alleged that McPhail had a history, pattern and practice of sharing confidences with an individual who had material, nonpublic information concerning American Superconductor's quarterly earnings and other business activities (the "Inside Information"). This individual provided McPhail with the Inside Information with the understanding that it would be kept confidential. Instead, McPhail used email and other means to provide the Inside information to his friends, including Parigian, with the intent that they profit by buying and selling American Superconductor stock and options. Parigian, who used this information to profit on the purchase and sale of American Superconductor stock and options, pled guilty to criminal securities fraud and conspiracy charges on May 13, 2015.
In July 2014, the Commission filed a civil injunctive against Eric McPhail and six of his golfing buddies, including Parigian, alleging that McPhail repeatedly provided non-public information about American Superconductor. McPhail's source was an American Superconductor executive who belonged to the same country club as McPhail and was a close friend. According to the complaint, from July 2009 through April 2011, the executive told McPhail about American Superconducter's expected earnings, contracts, and other major pending corporate developments, trusting that McPhail would keep the information confidential. Instead, McPhail misappropriated the inside information and tipped his friends, who improperly traded on the information. Four defendants settled the SEC's charges, without admitting or denying the allegations, by consenting to the entry of judgments permanently enjoining them from violating the antifraud provisions of the Exchange Act, paying disgorgement and civil penalties. The SEC's case against Parigian, McPhail and another individual, Jamie Meadows, is ongoing.
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