Source: https://openjurist.org/592/f2d/638/united-states-v-p-fields-m-s-e
Timestamp: 2018-04-19 21:33:04
Document Index: 81719970

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 202', '§ 1001', '§ 1001', '§ 78', '§ 240', '§ 240', '§ 3731', '§ 202', '§ 77', '§ 78', '§ 79', '§ 77', '§ 80', '§ 80', '§ 78', '§ 77', '§ 78', '§ 240']

592 F. 2d 638 - United States v. P Fields M S E
592 F.2d 638
Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 96,552
Douglas P. FIELDS, Frederick M. Friedman, Peter S. Davis,
Alan E. Sandberg, andEric Berge, Defendants-Appellees.
Argued Nov. 16, 1977.
Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc Denied Feb. 14, 1979.
As indicated above, Tucker and Perlmutter, beginning in September 1975, had been in touch with the United States Attorney's office about a criminal reference of the TDA matter. These contacts with Assistant United States Attorney Sorkin8 continued during October and November. During this period Tucker and Perlmutter urged the United States Attorney's office to investigate the TDA matter but they made it clear that they wanted to conclude a settlement in the civil action before making a criminal reference.
On December 1, shortly after Gould and Streit had made the offer to settle the civil action, Tucker, in the presence of the Assistant Regional Administrator of the SEC's New York Regional Office, communicated regarding the TDA matter with Assistant United States Attorney Wing, Chief of the Fraud Unit of the United States Attorney's office. This was done by telephone, followed by a letter dated December 1 from Tucker to Wing enclosing the SEC's pleadings file in the TDA case.
There followed an investigation of the TDA matter by the United States Attorney's office, presentation of the case to a grand jury, and the return of the instant indictment on November 8, 1976.
Before getting to the chief issue on this appeal as stated above, we shall take up as a preliminary matter the claim asserted by some of the appellees, namely, that the communications regarding this case by the Commission's staff to the United States Attorney's office on December 1, 1975 were contrary to the applicable statutes, rules and regulations. This ground for dismissal of the indictment9 was urged upon the district court, as it is upon us. The district court rejected it. We also reject it.
The claim in essence is that the statutes authorize only the "Commission" to transmit evidence to the Attorney General for criminal proceedings, and that therefore the informal criminal reference on December 1, 1975 by the SEC's New York regional office to the United States Attorney's office "constituted an invalid criminal reference requiring dismissal of the resulting indictment."10 We hold that this claim is totally without merit.
It is important to bear in mind the distinctions, under SEC procedure, between preliminary communications between the Commission's staff and the United States Attorney's office, which may occur in the context of either a formal or informal investigation, and Commission criminal references, which may in turn be either formal or informal.11
With respect to the investigation procedure, the Informal, or Preliminary, investigation does not require members of the staff to obtain Commission authorization before turning over public or nonpublic investigative materials to the United States Attorney's office. On the other hand, a Formal investigation of alleged criminal violations, where issuance of process or compulsion of testimony is necessary, does require Commission authorization. A formal investigation may or may not be preceded by an informal or preliminary one. 17 C.F.R. § 202.5(a) (1977).12
As for the criminal reference procedure, whether formal or informal, it is authorized by statute and by Commission rules and regulations. In view of the fraudulent transactions charged in the instant indictment, we look to the Securities Act of 193313 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,14 each of which provides the statutory authorization for the Commission to transmit to the Attorney General available evidence of violations of the statutes involved for possible criminal proceedings.15 Moreover, the Commission is authorized by statute to delegate "any of its functions" to an employee, among others.16 In its Manual of Administrative Regulations, the Commission has delegated its authority to act to Directors of Divisions and Regional Administrators, and further has empowered these officials to redelegate such authority to designated members of their respective staffs.17 The Commission's Manual specifically authorizes and Encourages the disclosure of non public information to other federal law enforcement officials even when it has been developed in other than a formal investigation.18
The district court below found that during recent years it has been the SEC policy in the Southern District of New York for the Regional Administrator to redelegate his authority to lower echelon attorneys for the purpose of conferring with the United States Attorney's office at an early stage of either a formal or informal investigation. We hold that the district court correctly declined to dismiss the indictment on this ground.
As the SEC points out in its amicus brief, the procedure permitting preliminary communications with the United States Attorney has significant advantages. Allowing early participation in the case by the United States Attorney minimizes statute of limitations problems. The more time a United States Attorney has, the easier it is for him to become familiar with the complex facts of a securities fraud case, to prepare the case, and to present it to a grand jury before expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. Earlier initiation of criminal proceedings moreover is consistent with a defendant's right to a speedy trial. We decline, as the district court likewise declined, to interfere with this commendable example of inter-agency cooperation.19
This brings us to what we regard as the chief issue in the case whether the district court in this Criminal action abused its discretion in dismissing and striking substantial portions of the indictment20 because of alleged misconduct by employees of the SEC in attempting to settle the Civil action. On this issue we hold that the district court did abuse its discretion. We reverse and remand with directions to reinstate the unexpurgated indictment.
The district court recognized that, aside from The most drastic remedy of dismissing the indictment (as urged by all defendants), there were available at least two alternative remedies, i. e. "admonishment to the SEC" and "(p) ermitting the defendants to reopen the consent judgments entered in the civil suit".21
We believe on the facts of this case that the district court, in opting for the most drastic remedy available to it, abused its discretion. The relief granted was wholly out of proportion to the wrong sought to be corrected. And it was contrary to the law of this circuit or any other circuit, so far as we are aware.
The extreme sanction of dismissal of an indictment is justified in order to achieve one or both of two objectives: first, to eliminate prejudice to a defendant in a criminal prosecution;22 second, to "help to translate the assurances of the United States Attorneys into consistent performances by their assistants."23 Here, dismissal of the indictment served neither objective.
We agree with the district court that the conduct of the SEC employees in concealing their reference of this case to the United States Attorney and in leading defense counsel to believe the opposite was improper. But we fail to see any resulting harm to defendants. By that time defendants, with their backs to the wall because of the New York County District Attorney's anticipated reference of the matter to the SEC, had long since disclosed enough facts to the SEC to enable the government to marshal the evidence and to proceed both civilly and criminally against them. Thus, even assuming arguendo that the SEC was engaged in enforcement of federal Criminal laws when it negotiated the Civil consent decree a proposition about which we have considerable doubt it clearly was an abuse of discretion for the district court to employ such a severe sanction against the government on the facts of this case.
Even when a Prosecutorial arm of the government unlawfully obtains evidence, we normally limit the permissible sanction to suppression of the illegally obtained evidence. It is only in the rare case, where it is impossible to restore a criminal defendant to the position that he would have occupied vis-a-vis the prosecutor, that the indictment may be dismissed. E. g., United States v. Jacobs, supra; United States v. Estepa, supra.
The improper conduct here certainly was not as egregious as that in United States v. Rodman, 519 F.2d 1058 (1 Cir. 1975), where the SEC not only broke its promise but obtained incriminating evidence from the defendant in reliance on that promise. Moreover, the promise there was to "strongly recommend" against prosecution.
As for the deterrence objective of the district court's order here, proper regard for the public interest in the prosecution of crimes counsels restraint in dismissing an indictment for deterrence purposes unless the course of official misconduct is a demonstrated, long-standing one. We have approved this extreme sanction only when the pattern of misconduct is widespread or continuous. United States v. Jacobs, supra; United States v. Estepa, supra.
What we have here is an isolated instance of misconduct by two employees of a large government agency. There is no contention that SEC employees generally fail to disclose to defense counsel the release of relevant information or a criminal reference to the Department of Justice. We know of no other instance where this has occurred.
Since the district court's extreme sanction of dismissal of the indictment is not justified on grounds of eliminating prejudice to the defendants in this criminal prosecution or of deterring widespread or continuous official misconduct, we reverse the order and remand with directions to reinstate the unexpurgated indictment.
Finally, we turn to the district court's alternative grounds24 for dismissing Counts One, Two, Three and Four. After holding that substantial portions of the indictment must be dismissed or stricken25 because of the alleged misconduct by SEC employees in attempting to settle the civil action brought by the SEC against those who are defendants in the criminal action, the district court stated that "Quite apart from this basis for decision, there are alternative and compelling legal reasons why certain aspects of the indictment must be dismissed. . . . In order that the case be fully stated for the possible consideration of higher authority, I shall state the reasoning which underlies these alternative conclusions."
The district court then stated its alternative grounds (A) for dismissing Counts One, Two and Three, namely, that, for lack of materiality, the nondisclosure of the ERD kickbacks did not constitute violations of Section 17(a) of the 1933 Act or of the false statements statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (1976); and (B) for dismissing Count Four, namely, that disclosure of the Westcalind and ERD kickbacks in TDA's proxy statements in December 1971 was not required by Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act and the proxy rules promulgated thereunder.
We disagree with the district court's alternative grounds for dismissal of Counts One, Two, Three and Four. We reverse its rulings on this aspect of the case.
(A) Materality of Nondisclosure of ERD Kickbacks Under Counts One, Two and Three.
The district court dismissed Counts One, Two and Three which relate to the ERD kickbacks described in paragraphs 10(f) through 10(h) of Count One. The offense charged in Counts One and Two in substance is that one of the means employed by defendants in their fraudulent scheme was to issue a prospectus for a public offering of TDA common stock in November 1971 which was false and misleading in that it failed to disclose Material facts in violation of Section 17(a) of the 1933 Act.26 Count Three charges defendants with having filed with the SEC a prospectus which concealed Material facts in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (1976).27
The theory upon which the district court dismissed these counts, as urged by defendants' counsel, was that as a matter of law the failure to disclose the ERD kickback transactions in the prospectus did not constitute violations of the statutes because the failure to disclose such transactions was not Material to an informed decision by a prospective purchaser of TDA stock on the merits of investing in the company.
The error in the district court's ruling in this respect is best pointed up by the Supreme Court's definition of "materiality" and the Court's admonition against deciding that issue as a matter of law in TSC Industries, Inc. v. Northway, Inc., 426 U.S. 438 (1976):
"An omitted fact is material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable (investor) would consider it important in deciding (whether to purchase or sell securities). . . .
Put another way, there must be a substantial likelihood that the disclosure of the omitted fact would have been viewed by the reasonable investor as having significantly altered the 'total mix' of information made available." Id. at 449.
And, of critical importance here, the Court admonished:
"The issue of materiality may be characterized as a mixed question of law and fact, involving as it does the application of a legal standard to a particular set of facts. In considering whether summary judgment on the issue is appropriate, we must bear in mind that the underlying objective facts, which will often be free from dispute, are merely the starting point for the ultimate determination of materiality. The determination requires delicate assessments of the inferences a 'reasonable shareholder' would draw from a given set of facts and the significance of those inferences to him, and these assessments are peculiarly ones for the trier of fact. Only if the established omissions are 'so obviously important to an investor, that reasonable minds cannot differ on the question of materiality' is the ultimate issue of materiality appropriately resolved 'as a matter of law' by summary judgment." Id. at 450. (emphasis added) (citations omitted).
In the instant case, we hold that the government has shown a sufficient basis of materiality as defined by the Supreme Court in TSC Industries, Inc. v. Northway, Inc., supra, to charge nondisclosure of the ERD kickbacks as a violation of the statutes here involved. Defendants' $300,000 profit on this transaction, while ultimately coming out of the pockets of the defrauded stockholders, may well be immediately recoverable by TDA, Inc. as a short swing purchase and sale under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78p(b) (1976).
(B) Disclosure of Westcalind and ERD Kickbacks Under Count Four.
As its alternative ground for dismissal of Count Four, the district court held that defendants were not required, under Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act28 and Rule 14a-929 promulgated thereunder, to disclose the Westcalind and ERD kickbacks in proxy statements distributed in December 1971. We disagree.
Item 7(f) of Schedule 14A, 17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-101(f) (1977), requires disclosure of:
"any transactions since the beginning of the issuer's last fiscal year . . . to which the issuer Or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, in which any of the following persons had or is to have a direct or indirect material interest . . . (1) Any director or officer of the issuer; (2) Any nominee for election as a director. . . ." (emphasis added).
If proven, defendants' failure to disclose their interest in the Westcalind kickbacks certainly would be a violation of Item 7(f) and consequently of Section 14(a).
Item 7(e)(4) of Schedule 14A, 17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-101 (1977), requires disclosure of:
"indebted(ness) to the issuer . . . (of e)ach director or officer of the issuer . . . (including) any indebtedness . . . (which) arose under Section 16(b) of the (Securities Exchange) Act. . . ."
Defendants' sale of TDA shareholders' lettered stock immediately after acquiring it in a private placement the ERD kickbacks clearly would violate Section 16(b). Accordingly, their failure to disclose these kickbacks, if proven, would constitute a violation of Item 7(e)(4) and consequently of Section 14(a).
(1) We affirm the district court's holding that the informal criminal reference of this case by the SEC to the United States Attorney was not contrary to the applicable statutes, rules and regulations.
(2) We reverse the district court's dismissal and striking of substantial portions of the indictment because of alleged misconduct by SEC employees in attempting to settle a civil action.
(3) We reverse the district court's dismissal of Counts One, Two, Three and Four on alternative grounds.
(4) We remand the case with directions to reinstate the unexpurgated indictment and to proceed with the case in the district court according to law.
I concur in Judge Timbers' carefully considered opinion.
I would only add that in my view the conduct of the SEC representatives (Tucker and Perlmutter) in continuing to negotiate a civil settlement after appellants' counsel had repeatedly stated that they were negotiating on the basis that there would not be any criminal reference was deceitful and duplicitous.
Judge Haight found that at the very first meeting between defense counsel and Messrs. Tucker and Perlmutter, which took place on January 14, 1975, Tucker was advised that defense counsel's objective was "the avoidance of a criminal reference" and this was made clear to the same SEC counsel at a meeting on February 28, 1975. Moreover, after rejecting Tucker's testimony to the effect that he had in September 1975 told defense counsel that there was "no deal on criminal" Judge Haight further found that on September 30, 1975, former Judge Streit, who was substituting for Mr. Gould as chief defense counsel, advised that "in light of the fact that there (was) to be no criminal prosecution," he would endeavor to obtain the amount of the repayment demanded by the SEC, to which Tucker and Perlmutter made no response even though Perlmutter had in the interim been in communication with the U.S. Attorney about the case. In October 1975 Perlmutter confirmed to a lawyer representing a prospective outside director of TDA that there would be no criminal reference, and an attorney for appellant Sandberg told Tucker and Perlmutter that he would advise his client to settle, since settlement was "better than going over to the golden dome (U.S. Courthouse)," to which the SEC counsel made no response.
Once they were advised by appellants' counsel of the basis on which the latter were proceeding, SEC counsel surely owed an ethical obligation immediately to correct the record by advising counsel that they had already initiated an informal criminal reference or at least that they felt free to do so. However, since appellants' counsel, with no viable alternative, faced the prospect that the incriminating evidence would in any event be forwarded by the New York County District Attorney to the SEC without restrictions on its use no prejudice warranting dismissal of the indictment is shown.
The appeal is authorized by 18 U.S.C. § 3731 (1976). See United States v. Alberti, 568 F.2d 617, 620-23 (2 Cir. 1977), cited with approval, Sanabria v. United States, 437 U.S. 54, 69 n. 23 (1978)
Other subordinate questions are presented, as will appear below in this opinion
Count          Defendant              Violation                Statute
One        Fields, Friedman,   Conspiracy to violate    18 U.S.C. Sec. 371
Davis               securities laws
Two        Fields, Friedman,   Securities fraud         15 U.S.C. Sec. 77q(a)
Three      Fields, Friedman,   Filing false prospectus  18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001
Davis               with the SEC
Four       Fields, Friedman,   Soliciting proxies with  15 U.S.C. Sec. 78n(a)
Davis               false proxy statements
Five       Fields, Friedman,   Soliciting proxies with  15 U.S.C. Sec. 78n(a)
Berge, Davis        false proxy statements
Six        Friedman, Sandberg  Wire Fraud               18 U.S.C. Sec. 1343
Seven-Ten  Friedman, Sandberg  Mail Fraud               18 U.S.C. Sec. 1341
Eleven     Friedman            Soliciting proxies with  15 U.S.C. Sec. 78n(a)
false proxy statements
Twelve     Berge               False testimony before   18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001
We emphasize that our summary is of facts and transactions Charged in the indictment. Each defendant, having pleaded not guilty, is presumed innocent unless and until convicted
In ruling as we do on the chief legal question presented that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing and striking substantial portions of the indictment we accept the district court's findings of fact on that issue. In short, we assume, without deciding, the correctness of the district court's findings
While we disagree with the conclusions reached by Judge Haight, we have found his comprehensive eighty-two page opinion to be helpful in setting forth the evidence adduced during the eleven day hearing before him. And we have found especially commendable his candor in evaluating the testimony and acknowledging that his findings hinged on close questions of credibility.
See discussion at pp. 644-646, Infra regarding the SEC's criminal reference procedure, both formal and informal references
Such negotiations took place on February 28, June 17, September 4, September 30 and October 20. At the latter two meetings, defendants' counsel stated their understanding that an agreement had been reached that no criminal reference would be made
Not to be confused with Stanley Sporkin, Esq., Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement, who testified before Judge Haight on this matter
This alternative ground for dismissal of the indictment, urged by some but not all of the appellees, should not be confused with the alternative grounds for dismissal of portions of the indictment which we discuss below under section V of this opinion. The district court sustained appellees' alternative grounds for dismissal referred to in section V; it rejected the alternative ground discussed here
Brief of Appellee Sandberg, filed January 6, 1978, at 7. Substantially the same claim is adopted by some of the other appellees
These important distinctions are clearly and concisely set forth in the SEC's amicus curiae memorandum which was filed in this case at our request after oral argument. We requested the amicus memorandum because of the confusion on this matter which was evident in the briefs and oral argument of appellees' counsel
The SEC procedure, with respect to both Investigations and Criminal references, also was explained in detail by Stanley Sporkin, Esq., Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement, at the hearings before Judge Haight who referred to Mr. Sporkin's testimony in ruling as he did on this issue.
17 C.F.R. § 202.5(a) (1977) in relevant part provides:
"Where, from complaints received from members of the public, communications from Federal or State agencies, examination of filings made with the Commission, or otherwise, it appears that there may be violation of the acts administered by the Commission or the rules or regulations thereunder, a preliminary investigation is generally made. In such preliminary investigation no process is issued or testimony compelled. When it appears from information obtained either with or without a preliminary investigation that there is a likelihood that a violation has been or is about to be committed and that the issuance of process may be necessary, the matter is reported to the Commission, which may then order a formal investigation or examination, if it is deemed necessary . . .."
Section 20(b) of the 1933 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77t(b) (1976), in relevant part provides:
"The Commission may transmit such evidence as may be available concerning such acts or practices to the Attorney General who may, in his discretion, institute the necessary criminal proceedings under this subchapter . . . ."
Section 21(d) of the 1934 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78u(d) (1976), in relevant part provides:
"The Commission may transmit such evidence as may be available concerning such acts or practices as may constitute a violation of any provision of this chapter or the rules or regulations thereunder to the Attorney General, who may, in his discretion, institute the necessary criminal proceedings under this chapter."
The other statutes administered by the Commission contain similar provisions authorizing the Commission to make criminal references to the Attorney General. See, e. g., Section 18(f) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act, 15 U.S.C. § 79r(f) (1976); Section 321(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77uuu(a) (1976); Section 42(e) of the Investment Company Act, 15 U.S.C. § 80a-41(e) (1976); and Section 209(e) of the Investment Advisers Act, 15 U.S.C. § 80b-9(e) (1976)
15 U.S.C. § 78d-1(a) (1976) in relevant part provides:
"In addition to its existing authority, the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereinafter referred to as the 'Commission', shall have the authority to delegate, by published order or rule, any of its functions to a division of the Commission, an individual Commissioner, a hearing examiner, or an employee or employee board, including functions with respect to hearing, determining, ordering, certifying, reporting, or otherwise acting as to any work, business, or matter: . . . ."
This statute, although codified as indicated, is not part of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It was enacted as Section 1 of the Act of Aug. 20, 1962, Pub.L. 87-592, 76 Stat. 394.
Section 171.02A of the Commission's Manual of Administrative Regulations provides:
"Section 171: Cooperation With Federal, State and Foreign Government Authorities and With Self-Regulatory Organizations
02 Responsibility and Redelegation
A. Authority to act in matters covered in this Section is hereby delegated by the Commission to Directors of Divisions and Regional Administrators having cognizance over cases in which cooperation with other Federal, State or foreign authorities or self-regulatory organizations is in the public interest. These Commission officials may redelegate authority to act to designated members of their staffs."
Sections 171.06 and 171.07 of the Commission's Manual provide:
"171.06 Cooperation With Other Federal Law Enforcement Authorities. Since Commission cases frequently involve violations of the mail fraud statute and may involve other Federal statutes, The Commission recommends and encourages full cooperation with inspectors of the United States Post Office Department and other Federal law enforcement officials. Commission officials are authorized in their discretion to make information developed in the course of their investigations, other than formal investigations which have been ordered by the Commission, and other non-public information Available to these officials and to render such investigative assistance as may be required." (emphasis added).
"171.07 Furnishing Information to Other State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. In cases not falling within Subsections .05 and .06 of this Section, that is, situations other than referral of a matter for State enforcement action, or cooperation with the Post Office Department or other Federal law enforcement officials, Commission officials are authorized in their discretion to make available to Federal and State law enforcement agencies information developed in the course of an investigation other than a formal investigation which has been ordered by the Commission and other non-public information when the Commission official is satisfied that such action clearly will not interfere with the Commission's enforcement functions in the particular case or in other cases." (emphasis added).
Congress only recently has expressed its expectation that this cooperation will continue:
"Traditionally, there has been a close working relationship between the Justice Department and the SEC. The Committee (on Interstate and Foreign Commerce) fully expects that this cooperation between the two agencies will continue. . . ." H.R.Rep.No. 95-650, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 10 (Sept. 28, 1977).
Of the twelve count indictment returned by the grand jury on November 8, 1976, the district court's order of June 3, 1977 dismissed eight substantive counts in their entirety, i. e. Counts Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten and Eleven. It also struck from the conspiracy count (Count One) paragraphs 10(d), 10(e), 10(f)(i), 10(f)(ii), 10(f)(iii), 10(f)(iv), 10(f)(v), 10(f)(vi), 10(g)(i), 10(g)(ii), 10(g)(iii), 10(g)(iv), 10(g)(v), 10(h) and 11(e)
This resulted in the dismissal of the indictment in its entirety against three of the five defendants, i. e., Friedman, Davis and Sandberg.
The district court's order left remaining for trial only defendant Fields on paragraphs 10(a), 10(b) and 10(c) of the conspiracy count (Count One), limited to Fields' manipulation of the price of TDA stock; and defendant Berge on Count Twelve for giving false testimony before the SEC. Berge's case was severed for medical reasons.
The theory on which the district court dismissed and struck most of the indictment was that the portions which it dismissed or struck related to "transactions and matters specifically referred to in (the civil consent judgment)." We have some difficulty following the district court's line of demarcation, in dismissing and striking portions of the indictment, even on the district court's own theory. But our difficulty in this respect is of no consequence. We direct that the entire unexpurgated indictment be reinstated.
Arguments have been addressed to us with respect to these so-called "alternative" remedies, particularly whether the judgment below should be modified accordingly
We decline the invitation to rule upon anything except what is before us, namely, the order of the district court dismissing and striking substantial portions of the indictment, as to which we reverse.
As for the civil action which was assigned to Judge Pierce not to Judge Haight nothing in this opinion is to be construed as expressing or implying any views on our part. That case is not before us.
United States v. Jacobs, 531 F.2d 87, 90 (2 Cir.) (dismissal of perjury count of indictment affirmed in interest of Prosecutorial fairness in the same district regarding warning grand jury witness that she was a target of investigation), Vacated and remanded, 429 U.S. 909, Aff'd on remand, 547 F.2d 772 (2 Cir. 1976), Cert. dismissed, 436 U.S. 31 (1978); United States v. Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co., 551 F.2d 1106, 1112 (8 Cir. 1977) (dismissal of indictment affirmed because of breach of "Prosecutorial agreement, the inviolability of which rested completely in the province of the government Prosecutors " (emphasis added)); United States v. Henderson, 525 F.2d 247, 250 & n. 12 (5 Cir. 1975) (dismissal of indictment affirmed because of failure of Prosecutor to furnish defendants with transcript of prior state court trial where three of defendants had been acquitted)
United States v. Estepa, 471 F.2d 1132, 1137 (2 Cir. 1972) (Friendly, J.); Accord, United States v. Jacobs, supra, 547 F.2d at 778 (on remand)
Section 17(a) of the 1933 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77q(a) (1976), provides:
"Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be (punished)."
Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78n(a) (1976), provides:
Rule 14a-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act, 17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-9 (1977), in relevant part provides:
"(a) No solicitation subject to this regulation shall be made by means of any proxy statement, form of proxy, notice of meeting or other communication, written or oral, containing any statement which, at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or which omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of a proxy for the same meeting or subject matter which has become false or misleading."