Grow up turkey man. Private placement to qualified investors are done routinely by OTC companies, and very often many if not all of the shares are hedged ahead of the closing by the investor by taking a short position at whatever level they can get above the placement price. It is legal, in most cases. It may be unethical, tho probably smart business. It may be a violation of a contract provision with the issuer, if the terms specifically state that the PP investor agrees not to short the shares either ahead of the placement, or prior to the restriction date.
I have NO specific information that any of this is taking place, just seeing a pattern I have known before, and logically, at least to this person, it explains ALL of the movement in the share price since awards.
Magic
Opportunities always look bigger going than coming!