SEC sues short-seller Andrew Left and Citron Research for alleged stock manipulation.

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Andrew Left is a well-known short-seller and the founder of Citron Research, an online investment newsletter. Citron Research has gained notoriety for its critical reports on various companies, including GameStop. Left has built a reputation for taking short positions on stocks he believes are overvalued or have underlying issues.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have charged Andrew Left and Citron Research with multiple counts of securities fraud. The SEC’s complaint alleges that Left engaged in a $20 million scheme to defraud his followers by publishing false and misleading statements about his stock trading recommendations. The DOJ has also charged Left with a $16 million stock market manipulation scheme.

The SEC and DOJ claim that Left used his social media platforms and Citron Research to manipulate stock prices. According to the allegations, Left would publicly recommend taking positions in certain companies, only to reverse his firm’s position once the stocks moved. This “bait-and-switch” tactic allowed Left and Citron Research to profit from the price movements following their reports.

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GameStop, a company that became a focal point during the “meme stock” frenzy, was one of the targets of Citron Research’s short positions. The SEC’s investigation into Left’s activities is part of a broader effort to address market manipulation and protect investors from fraudulent practices.

Legal Consequences: If convicted, Andrew Left faces significant penalties. The DOJ’s charges include one count of engaging in a securities fraud scheme, 17 counts of securities fraud, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. Each securities fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while the false statements count carries a maximum penalty of five years.

This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of market manipulation practices and the importance of transparency and integrity in financial markets. The legal proceedings against Andrew Left and Citron Research will likely have significant implications for the financial industry and investor confidence.

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Sources:

www.cbsnews.com/news/andrew-left-citron-research-charged-stock-manipulation-scheme-sec-doj/

apnews.com/article/justice-short-seller-left-market-manipulation-e4827fe330d7149ef832c875e54248a8

finance.yahoo.com/news/will-the-sec-sue-gamestop-traders-183845241.html

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