Moffat, Admitted Galleon Tipster, Gets Six Months

Robert Moffat, the former top IBM executive who admitted to tipping off an alleged member of the Galleon Group insider-trading ring, was sentenced to six months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts imposed the sentence sought by prosecutors. Moffat’s legal team had argued that he should be sentenced to probation and spared jailtime.

“Why the defendant betrayed the only employer he has had for his entire career has not been addressed,” Batts said. “His astounding breach of his fiduciary duty to his employer is why he is here.”

Moffat pleaded guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud in March. He admitted passing confidential tips about IBM and two other companies to Danielle Chiesi, then at hedge fund New Castle Partners. Chiesi, with whom Moffat was having an affair, is the co-defendant of Galleon founder Raj Rajaratnam and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

Moffat, one of a dozen people to plead guilty in the case, will not have to begin serving his sentence until next June. After his release, he will have to pay a $50,000 fine.

All told, 21 people have been charged in the Galleon case.