Section 17. Whoever, having caused the publication of an advertisement described in section fifteen, or being a promoter, officer, clerk or servant of a mining corporation, or a broker or agent for such corporation or for such a promoter, or for the person or corporation causing the publication of such advertisement, sells or offers for sale any shares of stock in such corporation knowing that any statement in such advertisement is false or is inconsistent with a statement filed under said section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two years.