A ex-employee of expert-networking firm Primary Global pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that he acted as a middleman in an alleged insider-trading scheme.

James Fleishman, 41, is the first of a group of seven people arrested in recent months to plead not guilty in a probe that centers on firms that connect investors with corporate consultants.

Two of the seven arrested, including Primary Global employee Robert Nguyen and Dan DeVore, a former Dell Global supply manager, have pleaded guilty. The others have yet to be indicted, an indication that they are hammering out deals with the feds.

Prosecutors said Fleishman, a former vice president at Primary Global, set up meetings so that corporate execs acting as consultants could pass on tips to hedge funds.