From reading the article, this sounds like the same that happened with GameStop where on Reddit a group planned and bumped the stock price from struggling firms to 'protect' the firm against certain traders. I don't remember what kind of traders got upset from this action though, and, due to lack of understanding how investment works + not knowing the rules around trading in the US, I also don't understand what was illegal about the action with GameStop as I recall something illegal happening with that action.
If everything in the article is accurate, which I'm not completely sure about, this college student is just lucky with their timing.