Pleads

Kenneth Lay, once an icon of the energy industry and toast of Houston’s social community, on Thursday pleaded innocent to 11 criminal charges in connection with his actions at the failed company that he founded, Enron Corp. Lay, who, if convicted, faces charges that in total carry 175 years in prison and a fine of $5.75 million, also was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Kenneth Lay, once the toast of Houston’s social community and referred to by President Bush as “Kenny Boy,” on Thursday pleaded innocent to 11 criminal charges in connection with his actions at the failed company that he founded, Enron Corp. Lay, 62, who faces charges that in total carry 175 years in prison if he is convicted, also was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ending months of investigations into its nonregulated operations, NUI Energy Brokers Inc. (NUIEB) agreed to pay a $500,000 fine last week to the state of New Jersey. The wholesale trading subsidiary of Bedminster, NJ-based NUI Corp. pleaded guilty to misconduct by a corporate official for siphoning funds away from NUI’s utility subsidiaries as part of a gas purchasing program.

NUI Energy Brokers Inc. (NUIEB), the wholesale energy trading subsidiary of Bedminster, NJ-based NUI Corp., has agreed to pay the state of New Jersey $500,000 after pleading guilty to misconduct by a corporate official for transferring funds away from NUI’s utility subsidiaries as part of a gas purchasing program. In a separate agreement with the state on Wednesday, NUI Corp. agreed to fund and operate certain community service programs because of the misconduct.

The former managing director of Enron Corp.’s investor relations department, Paula Rieker, pleaded guilty last week to one felony count of insider trading and agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation. In addition, Rieker agreed to pay nearly $500,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle separate charges concerning the profit she made on the sale of Enron stock a few months before the company declared bankruptcy in December 2001.

The former managing director of Enron Corp.’s investor relations department, Paula Rieker, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one felony count of insider trading and agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation. In addition, Rieker agreed to pay nearly $500,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle separate charges concerning the profit she made on the sale of Enron stock a few months before the company declared bankruptcy in December 2001.

Lea Fastow, wife of the former Enron CFO, pleaded guilty Thursday in a Houston courtroom to one misdemeanor charge for filing a fraudulent tax return. She will serve one year in federal prison and one year of supervision after she is released.

Lea Fastow, wife of the former Enron CFO, pleaded guilty Thursday in a Houston courtroom to one misdemeanor charge. She will serve one year in federal prison and one year of supervision after she is released.

Jeffrey Skilling, the brash, tell-it-like-it-is former CEO of Enron Corp., pleaded not guilty to 40 criminal counts on Thursday morning in a Houston courtroom. He was free on bond after posting $5 million in cash.