In a systematic display of political patronage, Trump granted executive clemency to a series of convicted individuals, prioritizing wealthy campaign contributors and ardent MAGA loyalists. These pardons represent a dramatic expansion of Trump’s first-term pardon strategy, transforming the …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationEd MartinMichele FioreTodd Chrisley+3 morepardonregulatory-capturepolitical-patronageexecutive-power-abusewhite-collar-crime
On July 7, 2004, a federal grand jury indicted Enron founder and former CEO Kenneth Lay on 11 counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements to banks. The indictment charged that Lay repeatedly lied to investors, employees, and federal regulators about Enron’s …
Kenneth LayJeffrey SkillingDepartment of Justicecorporate-fraudenronsecurities-fraudcriminal-prosecutionwhite-collar-crime
On September 12, 2002, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau indicted former Tyco International CEO Dennis Kozlowski, CFO Mark Swartz, and General Counsel Mark Belnick on charges of looting at least $600 million from the company through fraudulent loans and unauthorized stock sales. The …
Dennis KozlowskiMark SwartzMark Belnickcorporate-fraudtycosecurities-fraudexecutive-lootingwhite-collar-crime
On June 25, 2002, WorldCom, the second-largest telecommunications company in the United States, announced it would restate its financial statements after discovering $3.8 billion in fraudulent accounting entries. The company admitted that “certain transfers” from line cost expenses to …
Bernard EbbersCynthia CooperScott SullivanWorldComcorporate-fraudworldcomaccounting-fraudsecurities-fraudwhite-collar-crime
On October 16, 2001, Enron announced a $618 million quarterly loss, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s downfall. The loss was largely attributed to a one-time charge for terminating “certain structured finance arrangements” known as the Raptors, which were partnerships …
Charles H. Keating Jr. was indicted on 42 counts of fraud and racketeering related to the Lincoln Savings and Loan collapse. The indictment exposed massive financial fraud involving risky junk bond investments that led to billions in losses for investors and taxpayers.
Charles H. Keating Jr.Charles Keating IIIfinancial-fraudsavings-and-loan-crisiscorporate-crimeracketeeringwhite-collar-crime
Between 1988 and 1992, the Department of Justice prosecutes over 1,000 savings and loan bankers for fraud and related crimes during the S&L crisis, with regulators making over 30,000 criminal referrals that produce felony convictions in cases designated as “major” by DOJ. Federal …
Department of JusticeFederal Bureau of InvestigationOffice of Thrift SupervisionS&L executivess&l-crisisprosecutionsaccountabilitywhite-collar-crimejustice-department
Charles H. Keating Jr.’s Lincoln Savings and Loan Association in Irvine, California, was discovered to have $135 million in unreported losses and substantially exceeded risky investment limits. The bank was selling high-risk, uninsured junk bonds to 22,000 unsuspecting investors, many of whom …
Charles H. Keating Jr.Lincoln Savings and Loan Associationfinancial-fraudsavings-and-loan-crisiscorporate-crimeinvestment-fraudwhite-collar-crime