Ex-Enron Figure Reported Near a Plea of Guilty

[kskiska]

Andrew S. Fastow, the former chief financial officer of Enron, has tentatively agreed to plead guilty to fraud charges and has provided evidence against another former high-ranking executive who is expected to face criminal charges as soon as this week, people involved in the case said yesterday.

A plea by Mr. Fastow and, if it happens, the charging and arraignment of Richard A. Causey, the former chief accounting officer, would be the most significant turning point in the two-year criminal investigation into Enron's collapse.

Still, the situation remains fluid. The deal with Mr. Fastow — which would result in a prison sentence of at least 10 years, according to people involved in the case — hinged in part on a resolution of a related criminal case against his wife, Lea. A federal judge in Houston, however, rejected the deal with Lea Fastow late yesterday because it left him with no ability to increase the sentence above an agreed-upon term of five months.

Mr. Fastow had been scheduled to enter his plea today in Federal District Court in Houston, and Mr. Causey had been expected to be arraigned tomorrow. However, the judge's rejection of Lea Fastow's agreement has put all of those plans in question. Still, people involved in the case expressed confidence that Lea Fastow's deal would be resolved and that her husband would ultimately enter his plea.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/08/business/08ENRO.html?hp

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Fitzovich]

2. 10 years?

Ten years is nothing compared to all the damage these greedy rascals caused. They all should be forced to pay back the money they stole from their shareholders. Perhaps they could spend their time doing some real (get your hands dirty) work and whatever wages they receive could go into the pot to pay back everyone that they caused to lose their retirement packages, savings or jobs.

[judy]

3. 'Scuse me, but where is the name Kenneth Lay mentioned?

Why is he always out of the picture in all these cathartic Enron events ?

:puke:

[cliss]

4. Ken Lay....

I read recently that Ken Lay is attending some very posh parties in Houston. He recently started another company. He's doing pretty well, all told.

He will NEVER be indicted. He's much too close to Bush. Bush will never let anything happen to his benefactor.

They will start looking for other people though, like Fastow, maybe Skilling, and lots of underlings.

[beanball]

5. "One Fine Day"

after the unelected fraud has been booted out of the white house,President Dean's justice department will indict Ken Lay and the rest of the Bush crooks.