Joseph Hirko, the former CEO of Enron Corp.‘s failed broadband business, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for lying to investors to boost the former company’s stock price. Hirko, who was first indicted in 2003, also agreed to pay $8.7 million in restitution (see Daily GPI, May 2, 2003). Hirko was one of five former Enron Broadband Services executives who were first tried in 2005; their trial ended in a hung jury. Hirko had previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Before he was sentenced in Houston by U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, Hirko apologized for his actions. “I’ve always tried to be an example for my kids, to show them by my actions to do right. I can’t do that anymore. The best I can do is stand here before you and accept responsibility for my actions.”

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