The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed an indictment against a former analyst from Goldman Sachs and Blackstone, alleging that he used Xbox 360 chat and other platforms to share insider trading tips with friends.
The indictment names Anthony Viggiano and Stephen Forlano Jr. as the defendants. Viggiano is accused of providing non-public information about strategic partnerships and acquisitions made by his employers to Forlano and another individual, Christopher Salamone. The alleged tips were shared on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023. The total amount gained through these illegal means is estimated to be around $300,000.
Interestingly, some of the tips were reportedly exchanged through Xbox 360 chat. Salamone recorded Viggiano saying, “Nah. Nah. Because similar to you… signal, or like Xbox 360 chat, there’s no tracing that. Good luck ever finding that,” during a conversation about the possibility of someone revealing the scheme. It is unclear whether Viggiano was referring to the Xbox One but mistakenly mentioned Xbox 360. Nevertheless, the FBI explicitly mentioned “a video game console’s communication platform” as one of the mediums used to transmit the information.
Viggiano and Forlano Jr. were arrested on September 28, according to a press release. Viggiano faces eight counts of securities fraud, while Forlano Jr. and Salamone are charged with three counts each.
| Defendants | Charges |
|---|---|
| Anthony Viggiano | Eight counts of securities fraud |
| Stephen Forlano Jr. | Three counts |
| Christopher Salamone | Three counts |
Source: DOTESPORTS
