Ex-KPMG Partner Charged with Insider Trading in Criminal and Civil Charges

No doubt readers of this Blog have been following with interest the developments about the ex-partner of accounting firm KPMG (now identified as Scott London), who has admitted to passing along confidential information about audit clients to a friend (now identified as Bryan Shaw).  London has now been charged criminally with conspiracy to commit securities fraud through insider trading in Los Angeles, and the SEC has brought civil charges.  The complaint says London tipped off Shaw about five KPMG clients (previously only Herbalite and Skechers were identified) in exchange for bags of cash, concert tickets and a Rolex watch.  London allegedly made about $1 million profit in trades.  The illegal activity began in October 2010 and continued for 18 months.

The SEC's civil complaint states that London was the audit partner for Deckers Outdoor Corp.  In addition, London obtained inside information about two impending mergers involving two former KPMG clients -- RSC Holdings and Pacific Capital Bancorp --that he allegedly tipped to Shaw.

WSJ, Former KPMG Partner Is Charged

SEC, SEC Charges Former KPMG Partner and Friend with Insider Trading