Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued National Lampoon Inc., Chief Executive Officer Daniel Laikin and three other people, claiming they participated in a plan to fraudulently manipulate trading in the company’s stock.

Laikin paid kickbacks to a stock promoter and a witness cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who he believed had connections to “corrupt” brokers, the SEC said in a civil lawsuit filed today at federal court in Philadelphia.

The regulator asked the court for an order barring the company and Laikin from similar misconduct in the future, and is seeking to impose an unspecified fine against Laikin, according to its complaint.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Scheer in New York at dscheer@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 15, 2008 12:52 EST