This isn't unique to the start-up world. The banking sector[1] and automakers[2][3] provide some prominent recent examples of similar behavior.

[1]: http://www.sec.gov/spotlight/enf-actions-fc.shtml

[2]: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gm-justice-department-re...

[3]: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/business/toyota-reaches-1-...