Couple Settles Insider Trading and Tipping Case in Score Media Acquisition
By Barbara Shecter | Financial Post | September 26, 2025
A former executive at Score Media & Gaming Inc. reached a settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission. The commission charged him with insider trading and tipping. The charges relate to the US$2 billion acquisition by Penn National Gaming Inc.
Insider Trading Allegations and Settlement Details
Huy Le Huynh worked as a Vice President of Finance at Score Media. He admitted that he used secret information when he traded. He bought call options with a third party just before the public learned of the takeover. The purchase cost around US$7,000 and made him profits of over US$311,000. Each word here connects closely to the next to keep ideas tight and clear.
Use of Intermediaries and Trading Arrangement
Huynh learned of the acquisition plans before they were public. He told his wife, Thi Anh Nguyet (Nancy) Pham, who was on leave from Bell Canada. Both knew that buying or selling Score Media securities was banned at that time. Huynh then asked his wife’s long-time friend, Jessica Tam, for help. He gave Tam US$10,000 to deposit in her Tax-Free Savings Account. Huynh told her, in person and on the phone, to buy Score Media call options. The plan was simple: split the profit so that 80 percent went to Huynh and Pham, and 20 percent to Tam.
In late July 2021, Tam bought 184 options for US$5,152. She then bought another 120 options for US$1,800. After the takeover was announced, Tam paid Huynh and Pham about US$270,000 in cash. The trio used coded language—terms like “toys” referred to sums of money—over WhatsApp to share the plan details.
Efforts to Conceal Involvement
After trading, Huynh told Tam to delete his contact details from her phone. He also gave her a lawyer’s contact in case anyone questioned the trades. Next, he asked Tam to use some of the remaining money to invest in other securities. Here, every instruction connects directly with its purpose, ensuring the steps stay clear.
Pham admitted that she knew about the acquisition before it was announced. She also said she was aware of the plan that Huynh and Tam made. However, she did not know all of the finer details of the scheme.
Cooperation and Penalties
The couple had no past record of securities violations. They cooperated fully with the OSC investigation. This cooperation helped reduce the penalties. In the end, Huynh and Pham paid nearly US$600,000 in penalties and disgorged profits. Huynh accepted his role in the insider trading, and Pham admitted that her actions hurt the public interest.
Broader Implications
This case shows that Canadian regulators remain alert to insider trading. The OSC works hard to keep markets fair and to protect confidential details. They continue to monitor trades and enforce penalties for misusing private information.
Stay informed about developments in Canada’s key industries and regulatory actions by subscribing to the Financial Post’s newsletters.
Full money-growing playbook here:
youtube.com/@the_money_grower