TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) announced that John Natividad of Brampton, Ontario was sentenced on September 28, 2026, to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty on January 13, 2025, to insider trading pursuant to s. 76(1) of Ontario's Securities Act.

As part of his sentence, the Court ordered Mr. Natividad to pay a fine in the amount of $360,000. In addition, the court imposed a mandatory 25% fine surcharge that brings Mr. Saini's overall exposure to $450,000. Mr. Natividad was also placed on probation for the next two years.

Mr. Natividad admitted that between May 2018 and July 2021, he accessed material non-public information through his work as a software developer at a newswire distribution company. Using advance access to corporate press release headlines, he traded securities 275 times based on 234 unpublished releases, generating more than $435,000 USD in illicit profits.

"This outcome reinforces the importance of maintaining the integrity of Ontario's capital markets," said Bonnie Lysyk, Executive Vice President, Enforcement, OSC. "Individuals who obtain or use material non-public information for personal gain undermine investor confidence and the fairness of our markets. The OSC remains committed to detecting, investigating and holding accountable those who engage in insider trading and other forms of market abuse."

In September 2022, both Mr. Natividad and a co-accused, Harpreet Saini, were charged under the Securities Act. 

This case was brought by the OSC's Criminal Investigations & Prosecutions team, which is part of the Enforcement Division of the OSC. They investigate securities-related frauds, market manipulation, and related misconduct, including the investigation of repeat offenders and those who breach Capital Markets Tribunal or Court orders and bans. Their primary objective is to protect investors and further enhance confidence in the Canadian capital markets through effective enforcement. To do this, they often partner and collaborate with other law enforcement agencies and police forces. Charges laid under the Securities Act are prosecuted by the OSC. Charges laid under the Criminal Code are prosecuted by the Ministry of the Attorney General.

The mandate of the OSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair, efficient and competitive capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, to foster capital formation, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. Investors are urged to check the registration of any persons or company offering an investment opportunity and to review the OSC investor materials available at https://www.osc.ca.

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SOURCE Ontario Securities Commission