The Justice Department has increasingly pursued criminal charges against corporate hijackers and their conspirators for illegal takeovers of publicly traded shell companies. In many instances, a securities attorney or transfer agent have been charged in connection with the schemes. Recent examples include the criminal convictions ofIrwin Brook and Lawrence S. Hartman. Broock a Florida securities lawyer. Hartman recently pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a corporate hijacking and shell trafficking fraud scheme. Hartman faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.