SEC Halts Alleged Insider Trading Ring Spanning Three Countries

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed insider trading charges against an IT contractor and two others he illegally tipped with confidential client information he stole while working in the Singapore branch of an investment bank. The SEC obtained a court-ordered freeze of assets in three U.S. brokerage accounts and one U.S. bank account connected to the alleged trading. The SEC's complaint alleges that Rajeshwar Gannamaneni provided nonpublic information about impending mergers, acquisitions, and tender offers to his wife, Deepthi Gandra, and his father, Linga Rao Gannamaneni, who lives in India. Gannamaneni also allegedly traded in an account that he controlled that was opened in the name of a family member, who was living in the U.S. at the time.