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Jury Selection Begins in Corruption Trial of Scrushy and Former Gov. Siegelman
Jury selection began in the corruption trial of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, and two former members of Siegelman’s cabinet. The judge expects to complete jury selection in two days, and then begin the trial on May 1. Based on the government’s witness list, U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller said…
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CFO Gets Sticky Fingers
The chief financial officer of a company holds one of its most trusted positions, so if that person decides to start stealing from the company there may be little that can be done to prevent it. When it goes on for two years, however, it signals a breakdown in oversight procedures or a complete lack…
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Dismissal of Conspiracy Charge Against DeLay Upheld
The Texas Third District Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s dismissal of a conspiracy charge against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (opinion here). Travis Country (Austin, Texas) grand juries charged DeLay with money laundering and conspiracy to violate the state’s election law related to funneling campaign contributions from corporations through third parties before…
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Businessman Cooperating in Iraq Fraud Investigation
American businessman Philip Bloom entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors in February in connection with the ongoing investigation of fraud in the award of contracts through the Coalition Provisional Authority for work in rebuilding Iraq. Bloom was charged in 2005, along with CPA contracting official Robert Stein, with fraud for making approximately $2 million…
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“Die Hard” Director Pleads Guilty
The Wall Street Journal (AP) reports here that "Die Hard" director John McTiernan plead guilty to making false statements in an investigation concerning celebrity private eye Anthony Pellicano. This is yet another plea in an investigation "by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California of private investigator Anthony Pellicano for using illegal…
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Tough Day For Skilling
One need only read a few of the reports from today to realize that Jeffrey Skilling had a tough day. Washington Post here reporter Carrie Johnson notes that Skilling lost "his cool" under prosecution questioning. And the Houston Chronicle here points out the prosecution attack on Skilling’s failure to remember. A far cry from yesterday’s…
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Watch The Books
When a bookkeeper is able to embezzle more than $270,000.00, one has to ask questions such as: how was this possible; where was the oversight; and what is being done to change how the system operated? Fraud Update reports here on a sentence of two years in prison and restitution in the amount of $270,000.00…
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Cross – Ex of Skilling
In some white collar cases, there is nothing better for the prosecution than having the defendant take the witness stand. The prosecution is likely to be thinking this here, as it allows them to put questionable transactions in the face of the defendant-witness. With so much riding on the credibility of the witness, getting the…
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Comments on the Ryan Verdict
Some random thoughts on the Ryan Verdict: 1. These days, one finds a very supportive public if bringing a corruption case with believable witnesses.The public is not tolerant of public officials who are accused of misusing their office. 2. People who judge these cases are individuals who might not read the newspapers and might not…
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Former Governor Ryan Is Convicted
The Chicago Tribune (here) and Wall Street Journal (here) are reporting that former Illinois Governor George Ryan and Larry Warner have been convicted on all counts.This trial lasted over six months, with the jury being out for 11 days. Alternates were used in the deliberation. For Ryan this means sentencing on charges including a…
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