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Non-Tech : The Enron Scandal - Unmoderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (2816)	11/7/2003 10:59:13 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3602

Glenn, How touching. Now that was a real family values story. <g>

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (2816)	11/18/2003 8:35:00 AM
From: Glenn Petersen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3602

Judge Keeps Lea Fastow Trial in Houston story.news.yahoo.com Mon Nov 17, 8:00 PM ET HOUSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge has ruled that the criminal trial of Lea Fastow, the wife of Enron's indicted former chief financial officer, will go forward in Houston. U.S. District Judge David Hittner, in an order made public on Monday but dated Friday, declined to move Fastow's trial out of Enron's hometown. The ruling is an indicator that the case is moving toward its scheduled Feb. 10 start, and that reported plea bargain negotiations have broken down. The Houston Chronicle on Monday reported that plea talks had failed, citing sources it did not identify. Fastow, a former Enron assistant treasurer, is charged in a six-count indictment with money laundering, filing false tax returns and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in her husband's dealings. She has pleaded not guilty. Both she and husband Andrew Fastow have argued that widespread media coverage and lingering ill will over the bankrupt energy giant's failure would poison the jury pool. Andrew Fastow has pleaded not guilty to nearly 100 charges of fraud and insider trading in an indictment charging him with enriching himself through secret partnerships that buried billions of Enron's debt. He is due to go to trial on April 20. Lea Fastow's lawyers told Hittner they would be willing to stay in Houston if they could question jurors individually. Andrew Fastow's motion is pending before a different judge. Hittner refused that request, but wrote that he would conduct exhaustive questioning of the jurors as a group, and if necessary, one by one. "The court acknowledges the presence of pretrial publicity in this matter and intends to conduct an extensive and detailed examination of the jury panel," Hittner wrote. Mike DeGuerin, Fastow's lead lawyer, said he supported Hittner's intention to ensure a fair trial, notwithstanding Houston's "sensitive response" to Enron's fall. "I am sure that Judge Hittner sincerely believes ... that he can create in his courtroom a jury selection process and an atmosphere of fairness that will ensure Lea a jury that will give her the presumption of innocence and fair trial," DeGeurin said. "In this endeavor, I am completely behind him." DeGeurin declined to comment on the plea negotiations. The deal being discussed was structured to get Fastow out of prison in time for her husband's trial, so their two young children would not be without at least one parent. The Justice Department (news - web sites) does not comment on ongoing criminal matters