Three people have been charged with illegally trading shares in a shell company that later announced plans to merge with former President Donald Trump's media venture, Trump Media Technology Group.
Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, and Bruce Garelick allegedly pocketed $22 million in illegal profits from trading on material nonpublic information, the Justice Department said.The former US President announced his intention to create a new social media platform after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter last year.
Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, and Bruce Garelick allegedly "made more than $22 million in illegal profits by trading in securities of Digital World Acquisition Corporation based on material nonpublic information about DWAC's planned but not yet public business combination with a media company founded" by Trump, the DOJ said.The Justice Department does not allege wrongdoing by Trump or any of his family members.