One of the first ex-energy traders to be indicted for taking part in a scheme to manipulate natural gas prices by reporting false information to industry publications was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison.

Former El Paso Corp. energy trader Todd Geiger was arrested in December 2002, and he pleaded guilty a year later to reporting inaccurate information under the Commodity Exchange Act to Platts Inside FERC’s Gas Market Report (see Daily GPI, Dec. 12, 2003; Dec. 5, 2002).

Geiger had faced up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. However, his sentencing was delayed several times while he cooperated with federal authorities in their investigation into other ex-energy traders. In a joint motion earlier this week, both the prosecution and Geiger’s defense team requested the reduced sentence.

Geiger was sentenced in Houston by U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas. She placed him on probation for two years after he is released from prison, but she imposed no fines.

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