Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 1 of 9 FILED IN CHAMBERS U.S.D.C. Atlanta DEC 0 2 2014 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA By: NEWNAN DIVISION I'l. Hl-i--; 1:.:'\, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. Criminal Indictment THOMAS D. MELVIN, C. ROAN BERRY, MICHAEL S. CAIN, AND JOEL C. JINKS THE GRAND JURY CHARGES THAT: COUNTS ONE through SEVEN Securities Fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 1348 and 2) 1. From on or about December 4,2009, and continuing through on or about January 14,2010, in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere, Defendants THOMAS D. MELVIN, C. ROAN BERRY, MICHAEL S. CAIN, and JOEL C. JINKS, and PERSON A, aided and abetted by each other, did knowingly and willfully execute and attempt to execute a scheme and artifice (1) to defraud other persons in connection with stock securities of Chattem, Inc. and (2) to obtain, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, money and property in connection with the purchase and sale of stock securities of Chattem, Inc., an issuer with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("the Exchange Act") (15 U.s.C. Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 2 of 9 § 781) and that was required to file reports under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. BACKGROUND 2. At all times relevant to this Indictment: a. Chattem, Inc. ("Chattem") was an over-the-counter pharmaceutical manufacturer headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattem was a public company whose stock traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ") under the ticker symbol"CHTT." Chattem's securities were registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company was required to file reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. b. Sanofi-Aventis ("Sanofi") was a French pharmaceutical company that manufactured and marketed prescription and over-the-counter medication. Sanofi traded American depository shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SNY." c. In or about late 2009, Chattem entered discussions with Sanofi regarding a potential acquisition of Chattem. In or about November 2009, Chattem had a series of confidential board of directors meetings in which Sanofi's proposed acquisition of Chattem at a price of above $90 per share was discussed, and Chattem agreed to proceed with due diligence. The directors who served on Chattem's board had an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information received in connection with their service as directors. 2 Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 3 of 9 d. Defendant THOMAS D. MELVIN was a certified public accountant licensed in Georgia and partner in the accounting firm Melvin, Rooks, & Howell ("MRH") in Griffin, Georgia. In his capacity as an accountant, MELVIN regularly received confidential information from clients. The Georgia State Board of Accountancy prohibits licensees from disclosing confidential information obtained in the course of performing professional services without client consent. e. One of MELVIN's clients was a board member of Chattem who was present in the Novernber 2009 board meetings in which Sanofi's proposed acquisition was discussed. f. On or about December 4, 2009, MELVIN met with the board member, during which the board member provided confidential information about the merger, including the approximate timing of the deal and information from which the likely acquisition price was apparent, to MELVIN for purposes of obtaining personal tax advice. The board member told NIELVIN that the information discussed during their meeting was confidential. g. On December 21, 2009, Sanofi publicly announced that it was acquiring Chattem in a $1.9 billion cash deal. Chattem's stock rose from $69.98 per share at closing on December 20, 2009, to $93.50 per share. at closing the next day, which was approximately a 33% increase. h. MELVIN served as the personal accountant for Defendants C. ROAN BERRY, NnCHAEL S. CAIN, and JOEL C. JINKS. i. Defendant BERRY lived in Griffin, Georgia and owned a small business, E.E.S.I. MELVIN served as BERRY's accountant for both personal tax 3 Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 4 of 9 services and accounting services for E.E.S.I., and BERRY and MELVIN maintained a close personal friendship. Defendant BERRY maintained a brokerage account at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC ("Wells Fargo") in the name of his company, E.E.S.I. j. Defendant CAIN lived in Griffin, Georgia and was a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney ("Morgan Stanley"). In connection with his duties at Morgan Stanley, CAIN was a securities broker who traded securities on behalf of clients and on his own behalf. MELVIN served as CAIN's accountant for personal tax services, CAIN and MELVIN referred clients to each other, and CAIN managed MRH's retirement accounts. Defendant CAIN maintained a brokerage account for personal securities trading at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney ("Morgan Stanley") in his own name. k. Defendant JINKS lived in Griffin, Georgia and was a small business owner. MELVIN served as JINKS's accountant for both personal tax services and for JINKS's business, and JINKS and MELVIN maintained a close personal friendship. On or about November 20, 2009, Defendant JINKS opened a brokerage account at Wells Fargo in his own name and in his wife's name. 1. PERSON A worked at the accounting firm MRH in Griffin, Georgia with Defendant MELVIN. PERSON A's father-in-law maintained a brokerage account for personal securities trading at Pershing, LLC, in his own name and in the name of a family member. 4 Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 5 of 9 DEFENDANTS' SCHEME TO DEFRAUD 3. MELVIN misappropriated material, nonpublic information ("Inside Information") regarding Sanofi's planned acquisition of Chattem in advance of the public merger announcement in violation of (1) the duties of trust and confidence that licensed accountants owe to clients under the Georgia State Board of Accountancy Code of Professional Conduct, (2) expectations of confidentiality held by his client, and (3) his client's express request that the Inside Information shared with MELVIN remain confidentiaL 4. MELVIN disclosed the Inside Information to BERRY, CAIN, JINKS, and PERSON A for his own personal benefit and in violation of duties of trust and confidence, with the understanding that the Inside Information would be used for the purpose of purchasing or selling securities. 5. Defendants BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS, and PERSON A, aided and abetted by Defendant MELVIN, carried out the scheme and artifice to defraud by misappropriating Inside Information of Chattem's, knowing that it had been disclosed by MELVIN in violation of duties of trust and confidence that NIELVIN owed to his clients, so that BERRY, CAIN, JINKS, and PERSON A could execute and cause the execution of securities transactions on the basis of the Inside Information. 6. Defendants BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS, and PERSON A, in tum executed and caused to execute transactions in Chattem's securities on the basis of the Inside Information provided by Defendant MELVIN for their own benefit 5 Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 6 of 9 through personal online brokerage accounts. Defendants BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS, and PERSON A, sold their Chattem shares after the merger was publicly announced, thereby earning illegal profits. EXECUTION OF DEFENDANTS' SCHEME TO DEFRAUD 7. On or about December 4,2009, shortly after his client meeting with the Chattem board member, MELVIN called Defendants BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS within an hour of each other. MELVIN exchanged multiple calls with Defendants BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS between on or about December 4, 2009 and on or about December 21, 2009, the day that Sanofi's acquisition of Chattem was publicly announced. Following the initial conversations with MELVIN, Defendants BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS purchased Chattem stock. 8. On or about December 7, 2009, MELVIN told PERSON A that a client gave him Inside Information about the potential acquisition of Chattem, including that the merger would occur before the end of 2009 and that Chattem's stock would rise approximately $20-25 per share. Following MELVIN's conversation with him, PERSON A asked his father-in-law to purchase Chattem stock for him or on his behalf. 9. On or about the dates identified in Column C of the chart set forth below, each date constituting a separate count as set forth in Column A, in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere, for the purpose of executing and attempting to execute the aforementioned scheme and artifice to defraud, and to obtain money and property by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and 6 Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 7 of 9 promises, the defendants identified in Column B, aided and abetted by each other and others, executed and caused to execute the securities transactions set forth in Column D on the basis of Inside Information that they obtained from Defendant MELVIN: A Count B Defendants ONE MELVIN I December 10, 2009 TWO BERRY & MELVIN December 7, 2009 THREE CAIN & MELVIN December 4, 2009 I FOUR CAIN & MELVIN December 7, 2009 FIVE CAIN & MELVIN December 11, 2009 SIX CAIN & MELVIN December 15, 2009 SEVEN JINKS & December 11, 2009 I C Date (On or About) 7 D Transaction (Amount A;Q;Qroximate) Purchase of shares of Chattem common stock in Pershing LLC brokerage account for or on behalf of PERSON A Purchase of shares of Chattem common stock in Wells Fargo brokerage account in the name of E.E.5J. Purchase of shares of Chattem common stock in Morgan Stanley brokerage account in CAIN's name Purchase of shares of Chattem common stock in Morgan Stanley brokerage account in CAIN's name Purchase of shares of Chattem common stock in Morgan Stanley brokerage account in CAIN's name Purchase of shares of Chattem common stock in Morgan Stanley brokerage account in CAIN's name Purchase of shares of Chattem I ! Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 8 of 9 l common stock in Wells Fargo I brokerage account in JINKS's name MELVIN All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1348 and 2. FORFEITURE PROVISION Upon conviction of one or more of the offenses alleged in Counts One through Seven of this Indictment, the defendants, NIELVIN, BERRY, CAIN, and JINKS, shall forfeit to the United States pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of said violations. If any of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act or omission of the defendant(s): (a) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence; (b) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party; (c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court; (d) has been substantially diminished in value; or (e) has been commingled with other property that cannot be divided without difficul ty; 8 Case 3:14-cr-00022-UNA Document 1 Filed 12/02/14 Page 9 of 9 it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p) as incorporated by Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(b), to seek forfeiture of any other property of said defendant(s) up to the value of the forfeitable property described above. A SALL Y QlTILLIAN YATES NATHAN P. KITCHENS Assistant United States Attorney Ge No. 263930 v DOUGLAS?GILFI Assistant States Attorney Georgia Bar No. 294713 600 U.5. Courthouse 75 Spring Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30303 404-581-6000; Fax: 404-581-6181 9 BILL
© Copyright 2024 ExpyDoc