5 Executives Convicted of Fraud in First Enron Trial

[Eye and Monkey]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/03WIRE-ENRON.html

AP - Filed at 5:51 p.m. ET

HOUSTON (AP) -- A jury convicted four former Merrill Lynch & Co. executives and a former midlevel Enron Corp. finance executive of conspiracy and fraud Wednesday in the first criminal trial to emerge from Enron's 2001 collapse.

The deal involved a bogus sale of interest in power plants mounted on barges to the brokerage at the end of 1999 so the company could appear to have met earnings targets.

A sixth defendant, a former in-house Enron accountant, was acquitted. Sheila Kahanek testified she consistently opposed a verbal promise that the government contended made the deal a loan -- that Enron would resell or buy back Merrill's interest within six months.

Those convicted of conspiracy and two counts of wire fraud were: Daniel Bayly, Merrill's former head of investment banking; James A. Brown, former head of Merrill's asset lease and finance group; William Fuhs, a vice president who reported to Brown; Robert S. Furst, a former manager of Merrill's relationship with Enron; and Dan O. Boyle, a former Enron finance executive.
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[DELUSIONAL]

1. and pardoned quietly by bush and not reported by the media

-- I predict

[one_true_leroy]

2. Presidential Pardon?

Maybe at the end of the term?

[Eye and Monkey]

6. If they can stay out of jail for that long with appeals and whatnot.

Maybe they do a little time, then maybe they'll have the felony-conviction-requisite completed for further appointments higher up the BushCo management ladder. Maybe there's some other variation.

[0007]

3. When is Kenny boy going to trial? Or are we suppose to ask?

[colonel odis]

8. if kenny boy isn't convicted or if bush pardons him, i look for

someone whose life he ruined to put a bullet in his forehead.

not condoning, recommending, or anything else of that nature. but if kenny boy got off, some former employee will probably take things into his/her own hands.

[truthisfreedom]

4. i'm so numb i can't even enjoy this.

argh.

[catzies]

11. Yeah me too. Any other day, I'd be happy at the news.

n/t

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Prison?

Sorry but conviction alone don't cut it. They need to spend a little time contemplating their transgressions.

[Straight Shooter]

7. Oh, goody, a little dollop of whipped cream on our poop pie

I don't even care. This is just a show of nothing.

[punpirate]

10. Thanks.

That's the first laugh I've had since midnight. :hi:

[NashVegas]

12. I Can't Wait to See the Cherry on Top

Something about this story just gives me the giggles.

[harpo]

14. I was thinking the same thing...how long before the pardons?

[lovuian]

9. Finally someone is convicted!!!

Life goes on in the criminal land of Bush & co!!!

[leesa]

13. None of this will matter now. The Bush Crime Family will exonerate the

criminals.