I don't know how to short pinks, and have never tried it. But I think you're right, I don't know the law. Sounds like a pretty scummy thing to do at any rate and should be. I don't get paid by anyone either. i just got scammed over at NWOL and the recent news has hit the wind, reference to aurc here gave me hope the Nwol scam will unwind as well. That is my interest.
I do know that in the description of Dynkowski's activities the government tells how he often had "short" campaigns in his press releases as you can read in the indictment:
"The purpose of the NOBO Press release was to mislead investors into believing the massive selling of gh3 stock (for which Dynkowski was responsible) was attributable to short sellers."