Prudential eventually spent about $1.4 billion in fines and restitution to customers for the fraudulent sale of limited partnerships.

If successful, this legal tactic would allow Prudential to sidestep potentially millions of dollars in claims stemming from its fraudulent sale of limited partnerships in the 1980's.

For fraudulent sale of an American diocese, he was banished to Toledo, and, after his secret return to Madrid, to Pamplona.

And the agency is continuing a third inquiry into Prudential's fraudulent sale of $8 billion worth of limited partnerships.

Markets An S.E.C. inquiry of the possibly fraudulent sale of municipal bonds has been widened to include about 60 issues, according to published reports.

Throughout the trial, evidence and testimony was presented, revealing excessive lending to finance speculative investment, fraudulent sale of securities, and manipulation of assets.

From January 1995 through April 1, 1998, the indictment says, the 18 defendants conspired with two other brokerage firms in the fraudulent sale of initial public offerings.

Investigators are said to be trying to determine whether Mr. Bloch engaged in the fraudulent sale of unregistered securities.

Just last week, it got a court to freeze the assets of one Denver financial planner who the commission said was involved in the fraudulent sale of mutual funds.

The suit accused Prudential of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy in its fraudulent sale of limited partnerships in the 1980's.