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Kenneth Lay alive? Maybe
...I advance the following theory: Kenneth Lay -- the disgraced CEO of Enron who was convicted of 10 counts of fraud, conspiracy and lying to banks in two separate cases related to the collapse of the Houston-based company he founded, who died of heart disease July 5 while vacationing in Aspen, Colo. -- isn't really dead, either.
How do I know? Why else would a federal judge decide to vacate Lay's conviction on fraud and conspiracy charges connected to the downfall of the once mighty energy trading company? Why would a judge make it more difficult for the government to seize $43.5 million from Lay's estate, money he stole from his company, and ensure the ill-gotten goods stay put. The answer is easy. So somebody, probably Lay, can use the money at a later date. The ruling was based on case law established in 2004 that allows convictions to be revoked if defendants die without an opportunity to appeal. The convenience makes it impossible for me to think otherwise.
But Lay had socked away millions of dollars in protected investments. In early 2000, according to published reports, he and his wife bought about $4 million worth of variable annuities that guaranteed an annual income of about $900,000, starting next year. In Texas, the proceeds from annuity contracts are untouchable by creditors' and bankruptcy demands unless fraudulent intent can be proved. Lay's conviction did just that, but the judge's decision made it all go away and locked the money up even tighter. I also find his death from a heart attack one week from his trial a bit convienent.
...I advance the following theory: Kenneth Lay -- the disgraced CEO of Enron who was convicted of 10 counts of fraud, conspiracy and lying to banks in two separate cases related to the collapse of the Houston-based company he founded, who died of heart disease July 5 while vacationing in Aspen, Colo. -- isn't really dead, either.
How do I know? Why else would a federal judge decide to vacate Lay's conviction on fraud and conspiracy charges connected to the downfall of the once mighty energy trading company? Why would a judge make it more difficult for the government to seize $43.5 million from Lay's estate, money he stole from his company, and ensure the ill-gotten goods stay put. The answer is easy. So somebody, probably Lay, can use the money at a later date. The ruling was based on case law established in 2004 that allows convictions to be revoked if defendants die without an opportunity to appeal. The convenience makes it impossible for me to think otherwise.
But Lay had socked away millions of dollars in protected investments. In early 2000, according to published reports, he and his wife bought about $4 million worth of variable annuities that guaranteed an annual income of about $900,000, starting next year. In Texas, the proceeds from annuity contracts are untouchable by creditors' and bankruptcy demands unless fraudulent intent can be proved. Lay's conviction did just that, but the judge's decision made it all go away and locked the money up even tighter. I also find his death from a heart attack one week from his trial a bit convienent.
