The loudmouthed financial pro who refused a request by the FBI to wear a wire to aid federal prosecutors in their insider-trading probe — and then spoke about the incident to several media outlets — was slammed with a subpoena yesterday by Wall Street’s new sheriff, Preet Bharara.
John Kunnican, 53, founder of Portland, Ore.-based research firm Broadband Research, said he was visited by the FBI agents for a second time yesterday — and this time they were armed with the legal document.
Kunnican first made waves two weeks ago when he told The Wall Street Journal that two FBI agents, whom he referred to as “fresh-faced eager beavers,” appeared on his doorstep asking that he wear a wire to record conversations with hedge fund clients such as Steve Cohen’s SAC Capital.
He not only refused, he e-mailed all his clients about the encounter.
Yesterday’s subpoena, which Kunnican confirmed to several news outlets, requests records related to his clients and his trading activity going back two years.
Kunnican didn’t return a request for comment, but he told business blog Dealbook that he’s not shaken by the growing scrutiny.
“Call me crazy. I know I’m the biggest whack job on the planet, but I feel fine,” he said.

