Former Deloitte Tax LP Partner’s Wife Settles Insider Trading Charges for $1M

The Securities and Exchange Commission says that Annabel McClellan has settled for $1M insider trading allegations that she and her husband gave relatives confidential information about merger deals. Annabel is the wife of Arnold McClellan, who used to be a partner at Deloitte Tax LP where he was head of the mergers and acquisitions teams.

If a federal judge approves the securities fraud settlement, the SEC will dismiss the claims against Arnold. By agreeing to settle, Annabel is not denying or admitting to the securities charges.

Per the SEC, Annabel used confidential information that she got from her husband to tip her brother-in-law James Sander and her sister Miranda. These family members then allegedly used this knowledge to make trades before the transactions (usually involved pending acquisitions and mergers) were announced to the public. This allowed them to make millions in illicit profits.

In addition to the civil penalty, Annabel has agreed to permanent enjoinment from violating Securities Exchange Act of 1934’s Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. She also earlier pleaded guilty to obstructing the SEC’s probe into the insider trading scam after admitted to making false statements related to the investigation. Annabel maintains that her husband knew nothing about her activities.

The McClellans were charged with insider trading by the SEC last year following a parallel probe by the Commission, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Department of Justice (DOJ, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to the SEC’s complaint, at least seven times between 2006 and 2008, Arnold McClellan revealed confidential information to his wife, who then passed on what she knew to Miranda and James in London.

James, who owns a trading company, would then buy derivative financial instruments. He also took financial positions in US companies that were acquisition targets. When Arnold would find out that some of the deals were not certain, James would liquidate his positions. The Commission says that the trades were closely timed with phone calls made between the two sisters, as well as in-person visits between the couples. By 2008, James allegedly made over £1.5 million from the tips and his financial firm’s clients and colleagues made over £10 million.

Insider Trading
Insider trading hurts the stock market, affects investor confidence, and causes financial harm to the companies whose confidential information was used to benefit a few. Insider trading is a breach of fiduciary duty or another kind of relationship of confidence and trust. The person tipping, the one being tipped, and anyone who has access to the insider information that makes the trade can be charged with insider trading.

Read the SEC Complaint Against the McClellans, SEC
Wife of former Deloitte partner to pay $1 million, SFGate, October 18, 2011
FSA, SEC and DoJ investigation leads to two people being charged by the SEC with insider dealing in the U.S., Financial Services Authority, December 1, 2010

More Blog Posts:
Ex-Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta Pleads Not Guilty to Insider Trading Charges, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, October 26, 2011
Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban’s Allegations of Misconduct Against the SEC Enforcement Staff are Without Merit, Says Inspector General’s Report, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, October 28, 2011
Insider Trading: Former FrontPoint Partners Hedge Fund Manager Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges, Institutional Investor Securities Blog, August 20, 2011
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