The alleged actions with respect to stock-option grants would certainly be a violation of US securities laws. Gregory Reyes, the former CEO of Brocade, served jail time for doing less.
the prevailing Twitter view that he was merely obnoxious.
Besides the lesson that obnoxious people should keep their noses extra clean, another lesson to be learned here is probably that short sellers make lousy CEOs.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
