2025-06-06 DOJ SDNY press_release 121 KB 7,483 chars

Executive At Investor Relations Firm And Two Associates Plead Guilty To Insider Trading Scheme

Caption
United States v. Andrew Kaufman, et al.
summary

Investor relations executive Robert Yedid and associates Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs pleaded guilty to a five-year insider trading scheme that netted over $500,000 in illicit profits.

paragraph

The defendants participated in a scheme involving material nonpublic information regarding several healthcare company clients, generating over $500,000 in illegal gains. Kaufman earned more than $480,000 in profits, while Jacobs earned over $35,000, with Yedid receiving half of Kaufman's proceeds in cash. The group faces charges including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, with Yedid and Kaufman also facing securities fraud counts.

narrative

Robert Yedid, a former director at an investor relations firm, pleaded guilty alongside Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs for their roles in a five-year insider trading scheme. Between 2019 and 2024, Yedid leaked confidential information regarding healthcare clients, such as clinical trial results and merger plans, to his friends Kaufman and Jacobs. The scheme resulted in over $500,000 in illicit gains, specifically $480,000 for Kaufman and $35,000 for Jacobs, with Yedid receiving cash envelopes containing half of Kaufman's profits. Following an FBI approach in November 2024, Kaufman attempted to obstruct the investigation by deleting spreadsheets detailing his illegal profits. All three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, with Yedid and Kaufman also facing additional securities fraud charges. The legal proceedings were handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
insider-trading (99%)
Court
Southern District of New York
Outcome
pleaded
Victim loss
$500,000
Classified insider-trading(confidence 99%). EDGAR detection: forms 4/3/5/144· recall 81% / precision 19%. detection rule →
Statutes
15 U.S.C. § 78j(b)17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5
Parties
andrew kaufmanassistant director in charge of new york field office of fbichristopher g. raiainvestor relations firmJay Claytonmark jacobsrobert yedid
Keywords
yedidkaufmankaufman jacobsjacobsinvestor relationsinformationrelations firmsecurities fraudwhich carriescarries maximummaximum sentencesentence prisonsecuritiesrelationsnew

Exhibits & Attached Documents (1)

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 3
  • $500K $500,000 $100K–$1M
  • $480K $480,000 $100K–$1M
  • $35K $35,000 $10K–$100K
Entities 8
  • person andrew kaufman
  • agency assistant director in charge of new york field office of fbi
  • person christopher g. raia
  • scheme_term insider trading scheme
  • person investor relations firm
  • person Jay Clayton
  • person mark jacobs
  • person robert yedid
Triples 14
  • Robert Yedid pled guilty to insider trading scheme
  • Andrew Kaufman pled guilty to insider trading scheme
  • Mark Jacobs pled guilty to insider trading scheme
  • Robert Yedid, Andrew Kaufman, Mark Jacobs made $500,000 in illicit gains
  • Robert Yedid was employed at investor relations firm
  • Robert Yedid passed confidential information to Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs
  • insider trading scheme lasted five years (2019-2024)
  • Mark Jacobs pled guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Laura Taylor Swain
  • Robert Yedid, Andrew Kaufman pled guilty before Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain on May 29, 2025
  • Robert Yedid was director at investor relations firm
  • Robert Yedid had access to content of upcoming press releases
  • investor relations firm provided services to BioDelivery Sciences International Inc., CinCor Pharma, Inotiv, Inspire Medical Systems, Nano-X Imaging Ltd., OncoCyte Corp.
  • Jay Clayton is United States Attorney for Southern District of New York
  • Christopher G. Raia is Assistant Director in Charge of New York Field Office of FBI
PDF (from attached: pdf)
Text layers
Extracted body text (7,483c)
Press Release Executive At Investor Relations Firm And Two Associates Plead Guilty To Insider Trading Scheme Friday, June 6, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Robert Yedid, Andrew Kaufman, and Mark Jacobs Admit to Illegal Trading in Several Health Care Company Clients of Investor Relations Firm Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ROBERT YEDID, ANDREW KAUFMAN, and MARK JACOBS pled guilty to participating in a five-year insider trading scheme to reap illegal profits from stock and options trading based on inside information about several health care company clients of the investor relations firm where YEDID was employed. Together, YEDID, KAUFMAN and JACOBS made more than $500,000 in illicit gains through this scheme. JACOBS pled guilty today before U.S. Chief District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. YEDID and KAUFMAN pled guilty before Chief Judge Swain on May 29, 2025.“Robert Yedid betrayed the trust of his employer and its clients by stealing confidential information and passing it to two friends, Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs, to make unlawful, profitable trades based on inside information,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This Office is committed to prosecuting securities fraud and ensuring that insiders and their friends can’t cheat their way to profits. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to police the financial markets and hold those accountable who misuse nonpublic information for personal gain.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Robert Yedid abused his authority as a former investor relations director and provided his friends with material nonpublic information to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit profits. By betraying the trust placed in his position, Yedid established an unlawful financial advantage for his insular social circle that was not afforded to all investors. May today’s plea serve as a deterrent to any individual who exploits confidential trading information for personal benefit.”According to the allegations contained in the Information and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:Between 2019 and 2024, YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS engaged in a scheme to trade in stocks and options based on material nonpublic information about several publicly traded health care companies, in violation of the duties of trust and confidence that YEDID owed to his employer, an investor relations firm, and to the companies.YEDID was a director at an investor relations firm that provided public relations services to health care companies, including BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. (“BDSI”), CinCor Pharma (“CinCor”), Inotiv (“Inotiv”), Inspire Medical Systems (“Inspire”), Nano-X Imaging Ltd. (“Nano-X”), and OncoCyte Corp. (“OncoCyte”). In this role, YEDID had access to the content of upcoming press releases, which often contained highly sensitive, non-public, and potentially market-moving news, such as earning reports, regulatory approvals, clinical trial results, and merger and acquisition announcements. YEDID owed a duty of trust and confidence to his employer and its clients and was prohibited from misusing or disclosing the firm’s confidential information for personal gain or to benefit others.Beginning in 2019, YEDID knowingly and willfully tipped his friends, KAUFMAN and JACOBS, with valuable, nonpublic information of upcoming corporate announcements involving at least six client companies. That confidential information included advanced notice of an upcoming merger for BDSI; clinical trial results for healthcare products being developed by OncoCyte and CinCor; and quarterly earnings announcements for Inspire, Nano-X, and Inotiv.YEDID understood and intended that the information he provided to KAUFMAN and JACOBS would be used to execute securities trades before the information became public. As expected, KAUFMAN and JACOBS executed trades based on YEDID’s tips. In many cases, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded aggressively in the securities of the companies, often purchasing shares or options just days before major announcements were made. Together, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded in stocks and options on at least 17 different occasions based on YEDID’s tips. KAUFMAN generated profits of more than $480,000, and JACOBS generated profits of more than $35,000. In exchange for the tips, KAUFMAN shared half of his illegal profits with YEDID by giving him cash in envelopes during various meetings in New York City.In November 2024, FBI agents approached YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS as part of this investigation. Shortly after being contacted by the FBI, KAUFMAN intentionally deleted spreadsheets he maintained that listed the illegal profits he made through trading based on YEDID’s tips. KAUFMAN deleted these records in order to impede and obstruct the FBI’s investigation.* * *YEDID, 67, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.KAUFMAN, 68, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.JACOBS, 77, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.YEDID is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 12, 2025, at 2:30 p.m; KAUFMAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 18, 2025, at 11 a.m; and JACOBS is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 19, 2025, at 11 a.m.The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation. The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Rothman is in charge of the prosecution. u.s._v._yedid_kaufman_and_jacobs_information.pdf Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated June 6, 2025 Topic Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-137
OCR text (7,483c · html-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Executive At Investor Relations Firm And Two Associates Plead Guilty To Insider Trading Scheme Friday, June 6, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Robert Yedid, Andrew Kaufman, and Mark Jacobs Admit to Illegal Trading in Several Health Care Company Clients of Investor Relations Firm Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that ROBERT YEDID, ANDREW KAUFMAN, and MARK JACOBS pled guilty to participating in a five-year insider trading scheme to reap illegal profits from stock and options trading based on inside information about several health care company clients of the investor relations firm where YEDID was employed. Together, YEDID, KAUFMAN and JACOBS made more than $500,000 in illicit gains through this scheme. JACOBS pled guilty today before U.S. Chief District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. YEDID and KAUFMAN pled guilty before Chief Judge Swain on May 29, 2025.“Robert Yedid betrayed the trust of his employer and its clients by stealing confidential information and passing it to two friends, Andrew Kaufman and Mark Jacobs, to make unlawful, profitable trades based on inside information,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This Office is committed to prosecuting securities fraud and ensuring that insiders and their friends can’t cheat their way to profits. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to police the financial markets and hold those accountable who misuse nonpublic information for personal gain.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Robert Yedid abused his authority as a former investor relations director and provided his friends with material nonpublic information to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit profits. By betraying the trust placed in his position, Yedid established an unlawful financial advantage for his insular social circle that was not afforded to all investors. May today’s plea serve as a deterrent to any individual who exploits confidential trading information for personal benefit.”According to the allegations contained in the Information and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:Between 2019 and 2024, YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS engaged in a scheme to trade in stocks and options based on material nonpublic information about several publicly traded health care companies, in violation of the duties of trust and confidence that YEDID owed to his employer, an investor relations firm, and to the companies.YEDID was a director at an investor relations firm that provided public relations services to health care companies, including BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. (“BDSI”), CinCor Pharma (“CinCor”), Inotiv (“Inotiv”), Inspire Medical Systems (“Inspire”), Nano-X Imaging Ltd. (“Nano-X”), and OncoCyte Corp. (“OncoCyte”). In this role, YEDID had access to the content of upcoming press releases, which often contained highly sensitive, non-public, and potentially market-moving news, such as earning reports, regulatory approvals, clinical trial results, and merger and acquisition announcements. YEDID owed a duty of trust and confidence to his employer and its clients and was prohibited from misusing or disclosing the firm’s confidential information for personal gain or to benefit others.Beginning in 2019, YEDID knowingly and willfully tipped his friends, KAUFMAN and JACOBS, with valuable, nonpublic information of upcoming corporate announcements involving at least six client companies. That confidential information included advanced notice of an upcoming merger for BDSI; clinical trial results for healthcare products being developed by OncoCyte and CinCor; and quarterly earnings announcements for Inspire, Nano-X, and Inotiv.YEDID understood and intended that the information he provided to KAUFMAN and JACOBS would be used to execute securities trades before the information became public. As expected, KAUFMAN and JACOBS executed trades based on YEDID’s tips. In many cases, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded aggressively in the securities of the companies, often purchasing shares or options just days before major announcements were made. Together, KAUFMAN and JACOBS traded in stocks and options on at least 17 different occasions based on YEDID’s tips. KAUFMAN generated profits of more than $480,000, and JACOBS generated profits of more than $35,000. In exchange for the tips, KAUFMAN shared half of his illegal profits with YEDID by giving him cash in envelopes during various meetings in New York City.In November 2024, FBI agents approached YEDID, KAUFMAN, and JACOBS as part of this investigation. Shortly after being contacted by the FBI, KAUFMAN intentionally deleted spreadsheets he maintained that listed the illegal profits he made through trading based on YEDID’s tips. KAUFMAN deleted these records in order to impede and obstruct the FBI’s investigation.* * *YEDID, 67, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.KAUFMAN, 68, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.JACOBS, 77, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.YEDID is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 12, 2025, at 2:30 p.m; KAUFMAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 18, 2025, at 11 a.m; and JACOBS is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Swain on September 19, 2025, at 11 a.m.The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation. The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Rothman is in charge of the prosecution. u.s._v._yedid_kaufman_and_jacobs_information.pdf Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated June 6, 2025 Topic Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-137