Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Salomon trader admits charges

Larry Black
Friday 08 January 1993 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

(First Edition)

NEW YORK - Paul Mozer, the Salomon Brothers bond trader at the centre of a US Treasury auction scandal, pleaded guilty yesterday to two criminal charges of lying to securities regulators and agreed to pay dollars 500,000 to cover damage claims, writes Larry Black.

Mr Mozer admitted misusing client names in an attempt to monopolise an auction of US government securities two years ago, but continued to maintain that his illegal bid resulted in no potential or actual economic advantage to Salomon. A special court hearing will now decide whether his actions in fact caused any losses.

If the losses to clients or the US Treasury are put at more than dollars 1m, the former trader could face more than two years in prison. He also faces potential further criminal prosecution by the US Justice Department for his anti-competitive bids as well as a likely civil suit by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for violating its regulations.

Salomon Brothers settled its own charges for the incident by paying a fine of dollars 290m. The firm's three senior executives, who resigned in August 1990, will pay penalties totalling dollars 225,000 to the SEC for withholding the violation from the regulators.

Mr Mozer's lawyer, Stanley Arkin, said yesterday that the Salomon management's failure to report the violation caused it 'to be blown out of all reasonable proportion' by the media.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in