It is separate from the broader investigation of the firm's fraudulent sales of about $8 billion of risky limited partnerships.

That fund was designed to compensate investors who were misled about the safety of the risky partnerships.

The unit misrepresented to investors billions of dollars of risky limited partnerships.

Prudential's securities unit paid $1.5 billion in fines, compensation and legal costs after customers of risky limited partnerships suffered heavy losses.

The criminal inquiry centered on accusations that Prudential misled investors about the safety and potential returns of the firm's risky limited partnerships.

Some firms - selling penny stocks or risky partnerships - try to deal exclusively by phone.

In 1993, Prudential had agreed to compensate investors who contended they were defrauded when the company sold them highly risky limited partnerships during the 1980's.

In the case, securities regulators charged that Prudential misrepresented the safety and liquidity of the highly risky partnerships.

Marketing materials given to brokers of the firm misrepresented the highly risky partnerships as safe and secure investments.

"But it would be a risky partnership," Qui'chiri said.