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{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{current-related}}
{{Short description|American businessman and felon (born 1953)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox criminal
| birth_name = Jeffrey Keith Skilling
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|11|25}}
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Former CEO of ]<br />Former Partner at ]
| conviction_status = Released
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Susan Long||1997|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Rebecca Carter|2002}}
}}
| children = 3
| relatives = ] (brother)
| image_name = Jeffrey Skilling mug shot.jpg
| image_caption = Mug shot of Skilling in 2004
| charge = ], ], ], ]
| conviction_penalty = 14 years in federal prison<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-enron-ceo-jeffrey-skilling-resentenced-168-months-fraud-conspiracy-charges|title=Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling Resentenced to 168 Months for Fraud, Conspiracy Charges|author=U.S. Department of Justice|date=June 21, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2015}}</ref> (originally 24 years), $45 million ]; sentence reduced as a result of '']''
| education = ] (])<br />] (])
| signature = Jeffrey Skilling signature.png
}}


'''Jeffrey Keith Skilling''' (born ], ]) is the former ] of ], who was convicted of federal ] charges relating to Enron's financial collapse. Skilling, who headed Enron from February to August 2001, surrendered to the ] on ], ] in connection to the fraud charges against Enron and Skilling's predecessor/successor in the CEO position, ]. '''Jeffrey Keith Skilling''' (born November 25, 1953) is an American businessman who in 2006 was convicted of federal felony charges relating to the ]. Skilling, who was ] of Enron during the company's collapse, was eventually sentenced to 24 years in prison, of which he served 12 after multiple appeals.


After a 56-day trial ending with a jury verdict on ], ], Skilling was found guilty of 19 out of 28 counts against him, including one count of conspiracy, one count of insider trading (although he was acquitted of the other nine counts of this particular charge), five counts of making false statements to auditors, and twelve counts of securities fraud. Each conviction carries a maximum sentence of 5 to 10 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/business/25cnd-enron.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Enron Chiefs Guilty of Fraud and Conspiracy|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2006-05-27}}</ref> Skilling was indicted on 35 counts of crimes related to the Enron scandal. In 2006 he was found guilty of ], ], ], and ]. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined $45 million.


The ] heard arguments in the appeal of the case in 2010,<ref name="AP101309" /><ref name="AP3110"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304073222/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/High-court-hears-exEnron-CEO-apf-692969977.html |date=March 4, 2010 }} by Mark Sherman, ], via ''yahoo.com'', March 1, 2010 (ran in ''The New York Times'' March 1 or 2, 2010, p. 4 of NY ed., but no longer linked online). Yahoo! link retrieved June 9, 2010; info via NYTimes link retrieved 2010-03-08.</ref> vacated part of Skilling's conviction, and transferred the case back to the lower court for resentencing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1394.pdf|title=Supreme Ct Decision}}</ref>
Court observers estimate Skilling faces at least 25 years in prison for having used off-the-books partnerships to manipulate Enron's finances, as well as additional jail time for using inside information to sell Enron stock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000006&sid=avql4Efb7_M4&refer=home|title=Enron's Lay, Skilling Convicted of Conspiracy and Fraud Charges|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2006-05-29}}</ref>


In 2011, a three-judge panel of the ] ruled that the verdict would have been the same despite the legal issues being discussed, and Skilling's conviction was confirmed; however, the court ruled Skilling should be resentenced.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-enron-skilling-idUSTRE73601Y20110407 |publisher=Reuters |title=U.S. appeals court upholds Jeff Skilling conviction|date=April 7, 2011|first=Dan|last=Levine|access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> Skilling appealed this new decision to the Supreme Court,<ref name="FuleFix2011" /> but the appeal was denied.<ref name="SCourt2011" />
]]]


In 2013, following a further appeal, and earlier accusations that prosecutors had concealed evidence from Skilling's lawyers prior to his trial, the ] reached a deal with Skilling, which resulted in ten years being cut from his sentence, reducing it to 14 years.<ref name="JeffSkilling Resentencing">{{cite news|title=Ex-Enron Chief's Sentence is Cut by 10 Years to 14|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/prison-sentence-of-ex-enron-ceo-skilling-cut-by-10-years-2/|access-date=June 21, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 21, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Department of Justice should hang their heads in shame over Skilling deal|url=http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/215135987/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc/ht/US-Department-of-Justice-should-hang-their-heads-in-shame-over-Skilling-deal|accessdate=2022-12-10|publisher=’’Big News Network’’}}</ref> He was moved to a ] in 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-enron-ceo-jeffrey-skilling-released-from-prison/|title=Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling released from prison|first=Kate|last=Gibson|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=September 7, 2018|work=CBS News}}</ref> and released from custody in 2019, after serving 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-skilling/former-enron-ceo-jeffrey-skilling-released-from-federal-custody-idUSKCN1QA2ZK|title=Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling released from federal custody|date=February 21, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=February 21, 2019|language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Skilling was born in ], ] the second of four children. He grew up in ] and ]. When he was 13, he was the chief production director for a public-access cable television station in Aurora.


==Early life==
After graduating from ] (where he graduated number 16 in a class of 600), Skilling received his ] in ] at ] (1975), where he was a member of ]. During his admissions interview for ], he was asked, "Are you smart?" - to which he famously replied, "I'm fucking smart".
Jeffrey Keith Skilling was born in ], on November 25, 1953, the second of four children of Betty (''née'' Clarke) and Thomas Ethelbert Skilling, Jr.<ref name=Smartest>{{Cite book |title=The Smartest Guys in the Room: the Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron |last1=McLean |first1=Bethany |last2=Elkind |first2=Peter |date=2003 |publisher=Portfolio |isbn=1591840082 |location=New York |page= |oclc=52418094 |url=https://archive.org/details/smartestguysin00mcle/page/28 }}</ref> His father was a sales manager for an Illinois valve company.<ref name=Bloomberg01>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2001-12-16/the-fall-of-enron|title=The Fall of Enron|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=December 17, 2001|access-date=February 21, 2018|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> His older brother, ], later became chief ] at ] in ].<ref>{{Cite news|last=McGrath|first=Dan|date=2011-11-25|title=For Skilling, There Is No Such Thing as Bad Weather|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/25/business/media/for-tom-skilling-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather.html|access-date=2021-05-21|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Skilling grew up between ] and ]. When he was 16 years old, he worked at ] (channel 60), a ] television station in Aurora. He graduated from ] and received a full scholarship to ] in ], where he was a member of the ] fraternity.<ref name=Bloomberg01 />
Skilling earned his ] from Harvard in 1979, graduating in the top five percent of his class. He became a consultant at ] in the energy and chemical consulting practices.


Skilling initially studied engineering before changing to business.<ref name=Bloomberg01 /> After graduating in 1975, he went to work as a corporate planner for ] of Houston, Texas. He quit by 1977 to attend ]. According to Skilling, during his admissions interview for Harvard Business School, he was asked if he was smart, to which he replied, "I'm ''fucking'' smart."{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|p=31}} This apparently so impressed the interviewer that it secured his place at the school. He earned his ] from Harvard Business School in 1979, graduating in the top 5% of his class as a Baker Scholar.{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|pp=30–31}}
Skilling has a 21-year-old daughter, a 20-year-old son, and a 15-year-old son from his first marriage, which ended in divorce in 1997. In March 2002, he married Rebecca Carter, a former vice president for board communications and board secretary at Enron. Skilling is the younger brother of ], a popular ] in ].


After graduation, Skilling became a consultant at ] in the energy and chemical consulting practices. He eventually became one of the youngest partners in the history of McKinsey.<ref>"", ''Stevedenning.com'', 2004-02-20, Retrieved on May 19, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060328115717/http://www.stevedenning.com/SIN-65-Enron-Skillings-indicted.html |date=March 28, 2006 }}</ref>{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|pp=30–31}}
Skilling had a breakdown on the streets of New York City in April 2004. After an evening of excessive drinking he began to harass people on the street and began to accuse total strangers of being FBI agents. Police responding to the 911 calls found him uncooperative and concluded that he was an emotionally disturbed person in need of emergency assistance. <ref>{{cite web|title=Former Enron CEO may have lost it|url=http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=68319&SecID=33|publisher=Capital News 9|accessdate=2006-05-27}}{{cite web|title=Enron Big: Harasser Or Harassed?|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/07/national/main591929.shtml|publisher=CBS News}}</ref>


== Enron == ==Enron==
As a consultant for McKinsey, Skilling worked with ] during 1987, helping the company create a ] in ]. Skilling impressed ] in his capacity as a consultant, and was hired by Lay during 1990 as chairman and chief executive officer of Enron Finance Corp.{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|p=35}} In 1991, he became the chairman of Enron Gas Services Co., which was a result of the merger of Enron Gas Marketing and Enron Finance Corp. Skilling was named CEO and managing director of Enron Capital and Trade Resources, which was the subsidiary responsible for energy trading and marketing. He was promoted to president and ] of Enron during 1997, second only to Lay, while remaining the manager of Enron Capital and Trade Resources.


During Skilling's management, Enron adopted "]" ], in which anticipated future profits from any deal were accounted for by estimating their present value rather than historical cost. Skilling began advocating a novel idea: by promoting the company's aggressive investment strategy, the company didn't really need any "assets". This plan helped make Enron the largest wholesaler of gas and electricity, with $27 billion traded in a quarter. On February 12, 2001, Skilling was named CEO of Enron, replacing Lay. He was slated to succeed Lay as chairman as well in early 2002, but abruptly resigned six months later on 14 August 2001.
As a consultant for ], Skilling worked with Enron in 1987, helping the company create a ] in ]. Skilling impressed ] in his capacity as a consultant, and was hired by Lay in 1990 as chairman and chief executive officer of Enron Finance Corp. In 1991, he became the chairman of Enron Gas Services Co., which was a result of the merger of Enron Gas Marketing and Enron Finance Corp. Skilling was named CEO/managing director of Enron Capital & Trade Resources, which was the subsidiary responsible for energy trading and marketing. He was promoted to president and ] (second only to Lay) of Enron in 1997, while remaining the head of Enron Capital & Trade Resources. In 1999, Enron launched ], an Internet-based trading operation, which was used by virtually every energy company in the U.S.


Skilling joked about the ] at one meeting of Enron employees by asking, "What is the difference between California and the '']''? At least when the ''Titanic'' went down, the lights were on".<ref>Barrionuevo, Alexei., , '']'' via '']'', 2006-04-21, Retrieved June 27, 2007.</ref> Skilling later attributed the remark to frayed relations between Enron and California.<ref>, ''] live event/special'', Aired 2002-02-26, Retrieved June 27, 2007.</ref> His employees, meanwhile, plotted to keep the price of energy high in California.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/enron-traders-caught-on-tape/|title=Enron Traders Caught On Tape|work=CBS News |access-date=December 10, 2006|date=June 1, 2004}}</ref>
On February 12, 2001, Skilling was named CEO of Enron. Skilling began to behave strangely during this time and in April 2001 verbally attacked Wall Street analyst ]<ref name="million">{{


On March 28, 2001, ]'s '']'' interviewed Skilling, where he claimed for Enron "We are the good guys. We are on the side of angels".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/blackout/etc/script.html |title=Blackout Program #1916 Transcript|publisher=PBS|access-date=May 27, 2006}}</ref>
cite news
|url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/10/news/newsmakers/enron_trial/index.htm
|publisher=Money/CNN
|title=Skilling comes out swinging
|date=April 10, 2006


On April 17, 2001, Skilling made what became an infamous comment during a conference call with financial analysts. In response to fund manager ] saying "You know, you are the only financial institution that can't produce a balance sheet or cash flow statement with their earnings", Skilling replied: "Thank you very much, we appreciate that... asshole."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/enron-ceo-uses-vulgarity-in-attack-on-fund-manager|title=Enron CEO Uses Vulgarity in Attack on Fund Manager|website=] |date=April 18, 2001|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2003/10/24/crees-conference-call-blues.aspx|title=Cree's Conference Call Blues|publisher=The Motley Fool|access-date=September 29, 2014|date=October 24, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aols-tim-armstrong-others-who-605014|title=From 'Assholes' at Enron to Insulting Steven Spielberg: 5 Big Conference Call Gaffes|website=] |date=August 14, 2013 |access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref>
}}</ref>, who questioned Enron's unusual accounting practice during a recorded conference call. When Grubman complained that Enron was the only company that could not release a balance sheet along with its earnings statements, Skilling replied "Well, thank you very much, we appreciate that . . . asshole." Though the comment was met with dismay and astonishment by press and public, it became an inside joke among many Enron employees, mocking Grubman for his perceived meddling rather than Skilling's lack of tact.{{fact}}


In June 2001, Skilling spoke at the ], where he was heckled by ] protesters wearing pig masks and was partially struck by a pie on stage. A documentary, ''The Pie's the Limit'', was later made about the incident.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pender |first=Kathleen |date=2002-02-28 |title=JUST DESERTS? |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/networth/article/just-deserts-a-year-ago-francine-cavanaugh-2870295.php |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref>
Jeffery Skilling became the COO of the Enron Corporation in 1990, pushing a strange idea: the company didn't really need any "assets". By pushing the company's aggressive investment strategy, he helped make Enron the nation's biggest wholesaler of gas and electricity, with $27 billion traded in the first quarter. He became the CEO, and personally earned $132 million in a single year.


Skilling unexpectedly resigned on ] of that year, citing personal reasons, and he soon sold large blocks of his shares in the corporation.{{fact}} Then Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay, who previously served as CEO for 15 years, replaced him until the company declared bankruptcy in December of 2001. When brought in front of ]s, he stated that he had "no knowledge" of the complicated chain of scandal that would eventually result in Enron's ].{{fact}} Skilling unexpectedly resigned on August 14 of that year, citing personal reasons, and he soon sold large amounts of his shares in the corporation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oppel, Jr.|first=Richard a.|title=Former Head of Enron Denies Wrongdoing|newspaper=]|pages=Late Edition – Final, Section C, Page 1, Column 2 |date=December 22, 2001}}</ref> Then-chairman ], who previously served as CEO for 15 years, returned as CEO until the company filed for bankruptcy protection during December 2001. When brought in front of ]s, Skilling stated that he had "no knowledge" of the complicated scandal that would eventually result in Enron's ].<ref>, ''House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations via findlaw.com'', 2002-02-07, Retrieved June 27, 2007.</ref>


==Legal proceedings==
On ] ], ]'s ] interviewed Skilling, where he claimed Enron was one of "the good guys". <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/blackout/etc/script.html|title=Blackout Program #1916 Transcript|publisher=PBS|accessdate=2006-05-27}}</ref>
{{Main|Trial of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling}}
Skilling was indicted on 35 counts of ], ], and other crimes related to the Enron scandal. He surrendered to the ] on February 19, 2004, and ]ded not guilty to all charges. The indictments emphasized his probable knowledge of, and likely direct involvement with, the fraudulent transactions within Enron. About a month after quitting Enron, Skilling sold almost US$60 million of his stake in the company (in blocks of 10,000 to 500,000 shares), resulting in the prosecutors' allegation that he sold those shares with inside information of Enron's impending bankruptcy.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} Skilling's main attorney was ], the 52-year-old civil litigator who represented ]'s father in his successful civil suit against ] for negligent death. Skilling spent $40 million in preparation for ], of which at least $23 million went to his defense lawyers' retainer. Skilling's younger brother Mark is an attorney and assisted his legal team during the criminal trial.


In April 2004, Skilling got into a scuffle with patrons of a cigar bar in New York City after a night of drinking. He was not arrested, but he and his wife, Rebecca, who was hurt during the scuffle, were transported to a hospital where a blood test showed Skilling had a blood-alcohol level of 190 milligrams per deciliter (0.19% BAC), as indicated in the government's motion to modify conditions of Skilling's pretrial release order. Prosecutors moved against Skilling, asking a judge to increase his $5 million bond to $7 million, restrict his travel to Texas and impose a curfew.<ref>United States of America v. Jeffrey K. Skilling and Richard A. Causey, Governments Motion to Modify Conditions of Defendant Skilling's Pretrial Release Order, April 21, 2004, (file:///Users/AJA/Downloads/usskllng42104mot.pdf)</ref> They argued that Skilling violated his bond's terms by drinking excessively and failing to report his contact with police to federal pretrial services authorities.<ref>{{cite news| url =http://www.chron.com/business/enron/article/Skilling-arrested-accused-of-public-intoxication-1871675.php |title=Skilling arrested, accused of public intoxication|author= Kristen Hays, Tom Fowler and Thomas Korosec|newspaper=] |date =September 20, 2006}}</ref>
=== Indictment and trial ===
Skilling was indicted on 35 counts of ], ], and other crimes related to the collapse of Enron. He ] not guilty to all charges. The main reason for his arrest was his probable knowledge of the fraudulent transactions within Enron. About a month after quitting Enron, Skilling sold almost $60 million of his stake in the company (in blocks of 10,000 to 500,000 shares), leading to the prosecutors' allegation that he sold those shares with ] of Enron's impending ]. Skilling's attorney is ], the 52-year-old civil litigator who represented ]'s father against ] in civil suit. Skilling spent 40 million ] in preparation for ]. Skilling's younger brother Mark is an attorney and assisted his legal team during the criminal trial.


The trial commenced on ], ] in Houston, despite repeated protests from defense attorneys calling for a change in venue on the grounds that "it was impossible to get a fair trial in Houston the epicenter of Enron's collapse. Enron's bankruptcy, the biggest in U.S. history when it was filed in December 2001, cost 4,000 employees their jobs and many of them their life savings. Investors lost billions." On ], ] Skilling was found guilty on 19 counts of conspiracy, fraud, false statements and insider trading. He was found not guilty on nine counts of insider trading. Skilling, known for his arrogance and harsh attitude, came off in a mostly positive light, though he did lose his temper on the stand. <ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/25/news/newsmakers/enron_verdict/index.htm|publisher=CNN|title=Lay and Skilling's day of reckoning|accessdate=2006-05-27}}</ref> Sentencing is scheduled to take place on ], ] at 1 p.m. The trial began on January 30, 2006, in Houston, despite repeated protests from defense attorneys calling for a ] on the grounds that "it was impossible to get a fair trial in Houston".<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/05/25/news/newsmakers/enron_verdict/index.htm |publisher=CNN |title=Lay and Skilling's day of reckoning |access-date=May 27, 2006 |date=May 25, 2006 |first1=Shaheen |last1=Pasha |first2=Jessica |last2=Seid |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013100825/http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/25/news/newsmakers/enron_verdict/index.htm |archive-date=October 13, 2010 }}</ref> Enron's bankruptcy, the largest in U.S. history when it was filed during December 2001, cost 20,000 employees their jobs. In addition, many of them lost their life savings. Investors also lost billions. Skilling and many of the company's executives had sold huge portions of their own Enron stock before the bankruptcy filing, making a substantial profit. On May 25, 2006, the jury returned with the following findings regarding Skilling:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/business/25cnd-enron.html|title=Enron Chiefs Guilty of Fraud and Conspiracy|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 27, 2006|first=Alexei|last=Barrionuevo|date=May 25, 2006}}</ref>


* ''guilty'' on one count of ]
==Trivia==
* ''guilty'' on one count of ]
*In a front page interview with The Wall Street Journal on 17 June 2006 - the first since his conviction - Skilling claims, amongst other things, that: (1) he had been in a depression after the Enron bankruptcy, but that his indictment actually lifted his spirits and brought him out of his depression, (2) he states that the worst witness against him was himself, (3) he says that he will be able to survive a long prison term - as long as he is given "something to do, something to accomplish" while in prison.
* ''guilty'' on five counts of ] to auditors
* ''guilty'' on twelve counts of ]
* ''not guilty'' on nine counts of insider trading


In a front-page interview with '']'' on June 17, 2006, Skilling claimed that he had been melancholic after the Enron bankruptcy and that he had considered ], but that his indictment actually ended his ]. He also claimed that the worst witness against him was himself, and that he would be able to survive a long prison term as long as he is given "something to do, something to accomplish" while in prison.
==See also==

*]
On October 23, 2006, Skilling was sentenced to 24 years and four months in prison, and was fined {{US$|45000000|2006}}. All of his convictions save one were ultimately upheld on appeal, as was his sentence. Skilling's request to remain free during appeal was denied by Judge Patrick Higginbotham of the ] on December 12, 2006. In ordering Skilling's immediate imprisonment, the judge wrote, "Skilling raises no substantial question that is likely to result in the reversal of his convictions on all of the charged counts,"<ref>Stinebaker, Joe., ], , ''ABCnews.com'', 2006-12-13, Retrieved June 27, 2007.</ref> although the order also noted "serious frailties" were possible in some (but not all) of the convictions.

Skilling began his sentence on December 13, 2006,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1971179,00.html|title=Skilling to report to prison|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=December 13, 2006|location=London|first=David|last=Teather|date=December 13, 2006}}</ref> and was housed at the ], ], Montgomery, Alabama until 2018. According to the ], he was scheduled for release on February 21, 2019,<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406233500/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=Skilling&Middle=&FirstName=Jeffrey&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=25&y=22 |date=April 6, 2012 }}.</ref> but on August 30, 2018 Skilling was released from prison and sent to a ] in ] to serve out his prison sentence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Skilling-out-of-prison-sent-to-halfway-house-in-13194674.php|title=Skilling out of prison; sent to halfway house in undisclosed location|work=Houston Chronicle|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/08/30/302504/former-enron-ceo-jeffrey-skilling-has-been-released-from-prison/|title=Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling Has Been Released from Prison|work=Houston Public Media|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018}}</ref>

The ] had sued Skilling for his misdeeds in February 2004, around the time that the criminal case was brought.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press/2004-18.htm|title=SEC Charges Jeffrey K. Skilling, Enron's Former President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, With Fraud|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref> The SEC case was stayed, however, pending resolution of the criminal case. On December 8, 2015, federal judge ] granted ] to the SEC and permanently barred Skilling from serving as an officer or director of a public company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2015/lr23422.htm|title=Jeffrey K. Skilling et al. (Release No. LR-23422; December 8, 2015)|website=www.sec.gov|access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>

Skilling was released from federal custody on February 21, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/people-skilling-idUSL1N20G2FN|title=Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling released from federal custody|date=February 21, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=February 21, 2019|language=en}}</ref>

==2008 events==
Prior to the trial, attorneys for Skilling requested that the notes taken from FBI agents during interviews with ] be given to the defense. A number of inconsistencies in the notes were discovered soon after.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/skilling_appeal_argues_secret_sledgehammer_fbi_notes_require_reversal |title=Skilling Appeal Argues Secret FBI 'Sledgehammer' Notes Require Reversal |date=March 18, 2008 |author=Debra Cassens Weiss |work=ABA Journal}}</ref>

On April 3, 2008, Skilling's defense attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, argued with government prosecutors that Skilling's trial and the conviction itself was based on ], which he said did not apply to Skilling. This argument was based on the idea that, even though Skilling committed illegal financial maneuvers, he did so in order to save the company and did not profit from it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gjynze_K9WZp2S6ey6Ncn4W4BkuwD8VQ1UQ00 |title=Court Hears Appeal of Enron's Skilling |author=Juan A. Lozano |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408022604/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gjynze_K9WZp2S6ey6Ncn4W4BkuwD8VQ1UQ00 |archive-date=April 8, 2008 }}</ref> This was cited as a possible basis for overturning some or all of his convictions; however, the chances of this were considered to be very narrow.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/apr/03/enron.useconomy|work=The Guardian| location=London |title=Jailed boss seeks to reverse Enron verdict|first=Andrew|last=Clark|date=April 3, 2008|access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

Experts believed Skilling's best chance was in citing a parallel appeals court decision that had dismissed guilty verdicts on three ] bankers accused of helping Enron to inflate profits.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

On October 30, 2008, Skilling was moved to a low-security prison near ], as his original prison, ], was being converted to an all-female facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wasecacountynews.com/news.php?viewStory=1237/|title=Waseca County News|last=Southernminn.com|website=Southernminn.com|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref>

==Philosophy==
]' book '']'' was Skilling's favorite book and served as the foundation of his managerial philosophy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2017/08/08/reflections-on-the-dangerous-delusions-of-richard-dawkins_partner/|title=Reflections on the "Dangerous Delusions of Richard Dawkins"|date=August 8, 2017|website=Salon|language=en|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EZKoAgAAQBAJ&q=%22selfish+gene%22+skilling&pg=PA21|title=How Dogmatic Beliefs Harm Creativity and Higher-Level Thinking|last1=Ambrose|first1=Don|last2=Sternberg|first2=Robert J.|date=2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136697562|language=en}}</ref> Skilling held, by his own interpretation, a Darwinian view of what makes the world work. He believed that money and fear were the only things that motivated people.{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|p=55}} Soon after being hired at Enron, he set up the Performance Review Committee (PRC), a twice-yearly process in which employees were publicly graded by management panels on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being lowest.{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|pp=63–64}} Ratings were ostensibly based on job performance and feedback from colleagues and supervisors, but in reality, the highest grades were typically assigned to people bringing in money to the company, and people with internal connections.{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|pp=63–64}} Employees' bonuses often rested significantly on their ranking, and those with the lowest ratings were supposed to be fired. The rankings were assigned ] at Skilling's direction, meaning that ten percent of people had to be graded five, regardless of absolute performance. They were given two weeks to try to find another job at Enron or be fired. The scheme came to be known as "rank and yank".{{sfn|McLean|Elkind|2003|pp=63–64}} Skilling described the PRC process as "the most important process we conduct as a company".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/the-organization/management-controls-the-organizational-fraud-triangle-of-leadership-culture-and-control-in-enron#.U8R7zZSSz4U |title=Management Controls: The Organizational Fraud Triangle of Leadership, Culture, and Control in Enron |work=The Organization |publisher=iveybusinessjournal.com |at=Rank and Yank |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715180624/http://iveybusinessjournal.com/topics/the-organization/management-controls-the-organizational-fraud-triangle-of-leadership-culture-and-control-in-enron#.U8R7zZSSz4U |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }}</ref>

Dawkins has distanced himself from Enron and Skilling, saying that Skilling misunderstood his book. Dawkins has said that he has never advocated selfishness as a means of progression.<ref>{{cite news|title=Animal instincts. There is much that office workers could learn from the natural world, and it's not just about being the biggest and baddest beast around.|first=Richard|last=Conniff |url= https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/may/27/careers.work5|newspaper=The Guardian|date=May 27, 2006|access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref>

==Supreme Court review==
{{Main|Skilling v. United States}}
On October 13, 2009, the ] agreed to hear two questions presented by Skilling's appeal.<ref name="AP101309">{{cite news|last=Sherman|first=Mark|title=Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal of Enron's Skilling|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 13, 2009|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101300782.html?hpid=artslot|access-date=October 13, 2009}}</ref> The Court subsequently scheduled<ref name="SCOTUSDocket">{{cite web|url=http://origin.www.supremecourt.gov/docket/08-1394.htm |title=Docket for 08-1394 |access-date=December 30, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and heard argument March 1, 2010.<ref name="AP3110" />

The first challenge by Skilling's defense was whether or not the federal "honest services fraud" statute (title 18 of the ], section 1346) required the government to prove that Skilling's conduct was intended to achieve "private gain" (instead of being intended to advance his employer's interests); and, if not, if this statute is unconstitutionally vague.<ref name="ReferenceA">United States Law Week, vol. 78, p. 3069</ref> The Court heard two other cases about the same statute on December 8, several months before it heard Skilling's appeal: '']'' and ''Weyhrauch v. United States''.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

The second issue – "in-house judging" – was whether or not, when a presumption of jury prejudice arises because of the widespread, community effect of the defendant's alleged conduct, plus, widespread, inflammatory pretrial publicity, the government may rebut that presumption; and, if so, if the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that no juror was actually prejudiced.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In the arguments on March 1, the issue of jury selection received the most attention. Justices ] and ] seemed especially bothered by the questioning of one potential juror who reported that she had lost from $50,000 to $60,000 in the Enron debacle. "How can we be satisfied that a fair and impartial jury was picked when the judge doesn't follow up when the juror said, 'I'm a victim of this crime,{{'"}} Sotomayor asked. The government maintained that the judge and the selection process were appropriate.<ref name="AP3110" /> ], a partner at ], was Skilling's Washington defense attorney,<ref>Lauren Streib, , ''] Law review'', February 26, 2010</ref> and Justice Department lawyer ] argued for the government.<ref name="AP3110" />

On June 24, 2010, in an opinion by Justice ], the Supreme Court unanimously nullified Skilling's honest services fraud conviction, finding that "Skilling's misconduct entailed no bribe or kickback". The Court ] the Skilling case back to the lower court for further proceedings to decide which charges must now be dismissed as the result of the invalidation of the honest services statute.<ref>Supreme Court of the United States, ''Skilling v. United States'', No. 08-1394, October Term 2009.</ref>

In April 2011, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that since the jury was presented with "overwhelming evidence" that Skilling conspired to commit conspiracy fraud, the verdict would have been the same even if the honest services theory had never been presented, and Skilling's conviction was confirmed.<ref name="reuters1"/> The case in the Fifth Circuit is ''United States of America v. Jeffrey K. Skilling'', 06-20885. Skilling appealed this new decision to the Supreme Court,<ref name=FuleFix2011>{{cite news|url=http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/09/15/jeff-skilling-appeals-5th-circuit-ruling|title=Jeff Skilling appeals 5th Circuit ruling|access-date=July 22, 2012|work=FuleFix|author=Tom Fowler|archive-date=February 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225140340/http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/09/15/jeff-skilling-appeals-5th-circuit-ruling/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but was denied ].<ref name=SCourt2011>{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/11-674.htm|title=Jeffrey K. Skilling, Petitioner v. United States|publisher=Supreme Court of the United States|access-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, Skilling's lawyers and the Justice Department reached a deal that called for Skilling's sentence to be reduced to 14 years. The reduction was driven in part by a 2009 appeals court ruling that ordered a recalculation of Mr. Skilling’s sentence because of a mistake made by the judge in interpreting the federal sentencing guidelines. In exchange for his reduced sentence, Mr. Skilling gave up about $42 million, to be distributed to victims of Enron’s fraud. He also agreed not to pursue any further legal appeals, including a claim that would have accused the prosecution team of misconduct. Federal judge ], who had presided over Skilling's 2006 trial, accepted the deal on June 21, 2013.<ref name="JeffSkilling Resentencing"/> Jeffrey Skilling was released from federal custody on February 21, 2019, after 12 years in federal prison.

== Business ventures after Enron ==
In June 2020, Skilling was reported by Reuters to be fundraising for launch of an online oil and gas trading platform named Veld LLC.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Hampton |first1=Liz |title=Ex-Enron CEO Skilling launching new digital marketplace for oil investors |work=Reuters |issue=3 June 2020 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-enron-skilling-new-venture-exclusive/exclusive-ex-enron-ceo-skilling-launching-new-digital-marketplace-for-oil-investors-sources-idUSKBN23A32L |access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref> In August 2021, Veld LLC filed as a business in the State of Texas. According to the public records available through the ], Rebecca Carter, Skilling's wife, is listed as manager of the company. On August 30, 2022 the company became listed as withdrawn.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0804208148
| title = Veld LLC
| date = 1 Sep 2022
| website = Open Corporates
| access-date = 9 Mar 2023
}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Skilling has a daughter and two sons from his first marriage to Susan Long, which ended in divorce in 1997. His youngest child, John Taylor "JT" Skilling, was found dead from a ] at age 20 in his apartment in ] on February 3, 2011.<ref>, ], February 4, 2011.</ref>


In March 2002, Skilling married Rebecca Carter, a former vice president for board communications and board secretary at Enron.<ref>, ], March 6, 2002.</ref>
==External links==
* at
*
*
*


==References==
== Media appearance ==
{{Reflist|2}}
*''Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room'' (2005)(Directed by Alex Gibney)


== References == ==External links==
* at
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* (paywall)
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* .
</div>
* , ].
* {{C-SPAN|48182}}


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Latest revision as of 21:37, 12 December 2024

American businessman and felon (born 1953)

Jeffrey Skilling
Mug shot of Skilling in 2004
BornJeffrey Keith Skilling
(1953-11-25) November 25, 1953 (age 71)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationSouthern Methodist University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA)
Occupation(s)Former CEO of Enron
Former Partner at McKinsey & Company
Criminal statusReleased
Spouses
Susan Long ​(div. 1997)
Rebecca Carter ​(m. 2002)
Children3
RelativesTom Skilling (brother)
Criminal chargeConspiracy, securities fraud, false statement, insider trading
Penalty14 years in federal prison (originally 24 years), $45 million fine; sentence reduced as a result of Skilling v. United States
Signature

Jeffrey Keith Skilling (born November 25, 1953) is an American businessman who in 2006 was convicted of federal felony charges relating to the Enron scandal. Skilling, who was CEO of Enron during the company's collapse, was eventually sentenced to 24 years in prison, of which he served 12 after multiple appeals.

Skilling was indicted on 35 counts of crimes related to the Enron scandal. In 2006 he was found guilty of conspiracy, insider trading, making false statements, and securities fraud. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined $45 million.

The US Supreme Court heard arguments in the appeal of the case in 2010, vacated part of Skilling's conviction, and transferred the case back to the lower court for resentencing.

In 2011, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the verdict would have been the same despite the legal issues being discussed, and Skilling's conviction was confirmed; however, the court ruled Skilling should be resentenced. Skilling appealed this new decision to the Supreme Court, but the appeal was denied.

In 2013, following a further appeal, and earlier accusations that prosecutors had concealed evidence from Skilling's lawyers prior to his trial, the United States Department of Justice reached a deal with Skilling, which resulted in ten years being cut from his sentence, reducing it to 14 years. He was moved to a halfway house in 2018 and released from custody in 2019, after serving 12 years.

Early life

Jeffrey Keith Skilling was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 25, 1953, the second of four children of Betty (née Clarke) and Thomas Ethelbert Skilling, Jr. His father was a sales manager for an Illinois valve company. His older brother, Tom Skilling, later became chief meteorologist at WGN-TV in Chicago. Skilling grew up between New Jersey and Aurora, Illinois. When he was 16 years old, he worked at WLXT-TV (channel 60), a UHF television station in Aurora. He graduated from West Aurora High School and received a full scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Skilling initially studied engineering before changing to business. After graduating in 1975, he went to work as a corporate planner for First City Bancorporation of Houston, Texas. He quit by 1977 to attend Harvard Business School. According to Skilling, during his admissions interview for Harvard Business School, he was asked if he was smart, to which he replied, "I'm fucking smart." This apparently so impressed the interviewer that it secured his place at the school. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1979, graduating in the top 5% of his class as a Baker Scholar.

After graduation, Skilling became a consultant at McKinsey & Company in the energy and chemical consulting practices. He eventually became one of the youngest partners in the history of McKinsey.

Enron

As a consultant for McKinsey, Skilling worked with Enron during 1987, helping the company create a forward market in natural gas. Skilling impressed Kenneth Lay in his capacity as a consultant, and was hired by Lay during 1990 as chairman and chief executive officer of Enron Finance Corp. In 1991, he became the chairman of Enron Gas Services Co., which was a result of the merger of Enron Gas Marketing and Enron Finance Corp. Skilling was named CEO and managing director of Enron Capital and Trade Resources, which was the subsidiary responsible for energy trading and marketing. He was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Enron during 1997, second only to Lay, while remaining the manager of Enron Capital and Trade Resources.

During Skilling's management, Enron adopted "mark-to-market" accounting, in which anticipated future profits from any deal were accounted for by estimating their present value rather than historical cost. Skilling began advocating a novel idea: by promoting the company's aggressive investment strategy, the company didn't really need any "assets". This plan helped make Enron the largest wholesaler of gas and electricity, with $27 billion traded in a quarter. On February 12, 2001, Skilling was named CEO of Enron, replacing Lay. He was slated to succeed Lay as chairman as well in early 2002, but abruptly resigned six months later on 14 August 2001.

Skilling joked about the California energy crisis at one meeting of Enron employees by asking, "What is the difference between California and the Titanic? At least when the Titanic went down, the lights were on". Skilling later attributed the remark to frayed relations between Enron and California. His employees, meanwhile, plotted to keep the price of energy high in California.

On March 28, 2001, PBS's Frontline interviewed Skilling, where he claimed for Enron "We are the good guys. We are on the side of angels".

On April 17, 2001, Skilling made what became an infamous comment during a conference call with financial analysts. In response to fund manager Richard Grubman saying "You know, you are the only financial institution that can't produce a balance sheet or cash flow statement with their earnings", Skilling replied: "Thank you very much, we appreciate that... asshole."

In June 2001, Skilling spoke at the Commonwealth Club of California, where he was heckled by Global Exchange protesters wearing pig masks and was partially struck by a pie on stage. A documentary, The Pie's the Limit, was later made about the incident.

Skilling unexpectedly resigned on August 14 of that year, citing personal reasons, and he soon sold large amounts of his shares in the corporation. Then-chairman Kenneth Lay, who previously served as CEO for 15 years, returned as CEO until the company filed for bankruptcy protection during December 2001. When brought in front of congressional committees, Skilling stated that he had "no knowledge" of the complicated scandal that would eventually result in Enron's bankruptcy.

Legal proceedings

Main article: Trial of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling

Skilling was indicted on 35 counts of fraud, insider trading, and other crimes related to the Enron scandal. He surrendered to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on February 19, 2004, and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The indictments emphasized his probable knowledge of, and likely direct involvement with, the fraudulent transactions within Enron. About a month after quitting Enron, Skilling sold almost US$60 million of his stake in the company (in blocks of 10,000 to 500,000 shares), resulting in the prosecutors' allegation that he sold those shares with inside information of Enron's impending bankruptcy. Skilling's main attorney was Daniel Petrocelli, the 52-year-old civil litigator who represented Ron Goldman's father in his successful civil suit against O. J. Simpson for negligent death. Skilling spent $40 million in preparation for the trial, of which at least $23 million went to his defense lawyers' retainer. Skilling's younger brother Mark is an attorney and assisted his legal team during the criminal trial.

In April 2004, Skilling got into a scuffle with patrons of a cigar bar in New York City after a night of drinking. He was not arrested, but he and his wife, Rebecca, who was hurt during the scuffle, were transported to a hospital where a blood test showed Skilling had a blood-alcohol level of 190 milligrams per deciliter (0.19% BAC), as indicated in the government's motion to modify conditions of Skilling's pretrial release order. Prosecutors moved against Skilling, asking a judge to increase his $5 million bond to $7 million, restrict his travel to Texas and impose a curfew. They argued that Skilling violated his bond's terms by drinking excessively and failing to report his contact with police to federal pretrial services authorities.

The trial began on January 30, 2006, in Houston, despite repeated protests from defense attorneys calling for a change in venue on the grounds that "it was impossible to get a fair trial in Houston". Enron's bankruptcy, the largest in U.S. history when it was filed during December 2001, cost 20,000 employees their jobs. In addition, many of them lost their life savings. Investors also lost billions. Skilling and many of the company's executives had sold huge portions of their own Enron stock before the bankruptcy filing, making a substantial profit. On May 25, 2006, the jury returned with the following findings regarding Skilling:

In a front-page interview with The Wall Street Journal on June 17, 2006, Skilling claimed that he had been melancholic after the Enron bankruptcy and that he had considered suicide, but that his indictment actually ended his depression. He also claimed that the worst witness against him was himself, and that he would be able to survive a long prison term as long as he is given "something to do, something to accomplish" while in prison.

On October 23, 2006, Skilling was sentenced to 24 years and four months in prison, and was fined US$45,000,000 (equivalent to $68,012,545 in 2023). All of his convictions save one were ultimately upheld on appeal, as was his sentence. Skilling's request to remain free during appeal was denied by Judge Patrick Higginbotham of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 12, 2006. In ordering Skilling's immediate imprisonment, the judge wrote, "Skilling raises no substantial question that is likely to result in the reversal of his convictions on all of the charged counts," although the order also noted "serious frailties" were possible in some (but not all) of the convictions.

Skilling began his sentence on December 13, 2006, and was housed at the Montgomery Federal Prison Camp, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama until 2018. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he was scheduled for release on February 21, 2019, but on August 30, 2018 Skilling was released from prison and sent to a halfway house in Texas to serve out his prison sentence.

The Securities and Exchange Commission had sued Skilling for his misdeeds in February 2004, around the time that the criminal case was brought. The SEC case was stayed, however, pending resolution of the criminal case. On December 8, 2015, federal judge Melinda Harmon granted summary judgment to the SEC and permanently barred Skilling from serving as an officer or director of a public company.

Skilling was released from federal custody on February 21, 2019.

2008 events

Prior to the trial, attorneys for Skilling requested that the notes taken from FBI agents during interviews with Andrew Fastow be given to the defense. A number of inconsistencies in the notes were discovered soon after.

On April 3, 2008, Skilling's defense attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, argued with government prosecutors that Skilling's trial and the conviction itself was based on honest services fraud, which he said did not apply to Skilling. This argument was based on the idea that, even though Skilling committed illegal financial maneuvers, he did so in order to save the company and did not profit from it. This was cited as a possible basis for overturning some or all of his convictions; however, the chances of this were considered to be very narrow.

Experts believed Skilling's best chance was in citing a parallel appeals court decision that had dismissed guilty verdicts on three Merrill Lynch bankers accused of helping Enron to inflate profits.

On October 30, 2008, Skilling was moved to a low-security prison near Littleton, Colorado, as his original prison, FCI Waseca, was being converted to an all-female facility.

Philosophy

Richard Dawkins' book The Selfish Gene was Skilling's favorite book and served as the foundation of his managerial philosophy. Skilling held, by his own interpretation, a Darwinian view of what makes the world work. He believed that money and fear were the only things that motivated people. Soon after being hired at Enron, he set up the Performance Review Committee (PRC), a twice-yearly process in which employees were publicly graded by management panels on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being lowest. Ratings were ostensibly based on job performance and feedback from colleagues and supervisors, but in reality, the highest grades were typically assigned to people bringing in money to the company, and people with internal connections. Employees' bonuses often rested significantly on their ranking, and those with the lowest ratings were supposed to be fired. The rankings were assigned on a curve at Skilling's direction, meaning that ten percent of people had to be graded five, regardless of absolute performance. They were given two weeks to try to find another job at Enron or be fired. The scheme came to be known as "rank and yank". Skilling described the PRC process as "the most important process we conduct as a company".

Dawkins has distanced himself from Enron and Skilling, saying that Skilling misunderstood his book. Dawkins has said that he has never advocated selfishness as a means of progression.

Supreme Court review

Main article: Skilling v. United States

On October 13, 2009, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear two questions presented by Skilling's appeal. The Court subsequently scheduled and heard argument March 1, 2010.

The first challenge by Skilling's defense was whether or not the federal "honest services fraud" statute (title 18 of the United States Code, section 1346) required the government to prove that Skilling's conduct was intended to achieve "private gain" (instead of being intended to advance his employer's interests); and, if not, if this statute is unconstitutionally vague. The Court heard two other cases about the same statute on December 8, several months before it heard Skilling's appeal: Black v. United States and Weyhrauch v. United States.

The second issue – "in-house judging" – was whether or not, when a presumption of jury prejudice arises because of the widespread, community effect of the defendant's alleged conduct, plus, widespread, inflammatory pretrial publicity, the government may rebut that presumption; and, if so, if the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that no juror was actually prejudiced.

In the arguments on March 1, the issue of jury selection received the most attention. Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor seemed especially bothered by the questioning of one potential juror who reported that she had lost from $50,000 to $60,000 in the Enron debacle. "How can we be satisfied that a fair and impartial jury was picked when the judge doesn't follow up when the juror said, 'I'm a victim of this crime,'" Sotomayor asked. The government maintained that the judge and the selection process were appropriate. Sri Srinivasan, a partner at O'Melveny & Myers, was Skilling's Washington defense attorney, and Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben argued for the government.

On June 24, 2010, in an opinion by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court unanimously nullified Skilling's honest services fraud conviction, finding that "Skilling's misconduct entailed no bribe or kickback". The Court remanded the Skilling case back to the lower court for further proceedings to decide which charges must now be dismissed as the result of the invalidation of the honest services statute.

In April 2011, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that since the jury was presented with "overwhelming evidence" that Skilling conspired to commit conspiracy fraud, the verdict would have been the same even if the honest services theory had never been presented, and Skilling's conviction was confirmed. The case in the Fifth Circuit is United States of America v. Jeffrey K. Skilling, 06-20885. Skilling appealed this new decision to the Supreme Court, but was denied certiorari. In 2013, Skilling's lawyers and the Justice Department reached a deal that called for Skilling's sentence to be reduced to 14 years. The reduction was driven in part by a 2009 appeals court ruling that ordered a recalculation of Mr. Skilling’s sentence because of a mistake made by the judge in interpreting the federal sentencing guidelines. In exchange for his reduced sentence, Mr. Skilling gave up about $42 million, to be distributed to victims of Enron’s fraud. He also agreed not to pursue any further legal appeals, including a claim that would have accused the prosecution team of misconduct. Federal judge Simeon T. Lake III, who had presided over Skilling's 2006 trial, accepted the deal on June 21, 2013. Jeffrey Skilling was released from federal custody on February 21, 2019, after 12 years in federal prison.

Business ventures after Enron

In June 2020, Skilling was reported by Reuters to be fundraising for launch of an online oil and gas trading platform named Veld LLC. In August 2021, Veld LLC filed as a business in the State of Texas. According to the public records available through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Rebecca Carter, Skilling's wife, is listed as manager of the company. On August 30, 2022 the company became listed as withdrawn.

Personal life

Skilling has a daughter and two sons from his first marriage to Susan Long, which ended in divorce in 1997. His youngest child, John Taylor "JT" Skilling, was found dead from a drug overdose at age 20 in his apartment in Santa Ana, California on February 3, 2011.

In March 2002, Skilling married Rebecca Carter, a former vice president for board communications and board secretary at Enron.

References

  1. U.S. Department of Justice (June 21, 2013). "Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling Resentenced to 168 Months for Fraud, Conspiracy Charges". Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  2. ^ Sherman, Mark (October 13, 2009). "Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal of Enron's Skilling". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  3. ^ "High Court Hears ex-Enron CEO Skilling's Appeal" Archived March 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine by Mark Sherman, Associated Press, via yahoo.com, March 1, 2010 (ran in The New York Times March 1 or 2, 2010, p. 4 of NY ed., but no longer linked online). Yahoo! link retrieved June 9, 2010; info via NYTimes link retrieved 2010-03-08.
  4. "Supreme Ct Decision" (PDF).
  5. ^ Levine, Dan (April 7, 2011). "U.S. appeals court upholds Jeff Skilling conviction". Reuters. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Tom Fowler. "Jeff Skilling appeals 5th Circuit ruling". FuleFix. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  7. ^ "Jeffrey K. Skilling, Petitioner v. United States". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  8. ^ "Ex-Enron Chief's Sentence is Cut by 10 Years to 14". The New York Times. June 21, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  9. "U.S. Department of Justice should hang their heads in shame over Skilling deal". ’’Big News Network’’. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  10. Gibson, Kate (August 30, 2018). "Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling released from prison". CBS News. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  11. "Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling released from federal custody". Reuters. February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  12. McLean, Bethany; Elkind, Peter (2003). The Smartest Guys in the Room: the Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron. New York: Portfolio. p. 28. ISBN 1591840082. OCLC 52418094.
  13. ^ "The Fall of Enron". Bloomberg.com. December 17, 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2018 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  14. McGrath, Dan (November 25, 2011). "For Skilling, There Is No Such Thing as Bad Weather". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  15. McLean & Elkind 2003, p. 31.
  16. ^ McLean & Elkind 2003, pp. 30–31.
  17. "Enron: the government unveils its morality tale", Stevedenning.com, 2004-02-20, Retrieved on May 19, 2008. Archived March 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  18. McLean & Elkind 2003, p. 35.
  19. Barrionuevo, Alexei., "Enron trial focuses on character", The New York Times via IHT, 2006-04-21, Retrieved June 27, 2007.
  20. "Skilling May Still Have $66 Million Left From Stock Sales", CNN live event/special, Aired 2002-02-26, Retrieved June 27, 2007.
  21. "Enron Traders Caught On Tape". CBS News. June 1, 2004. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
  22. "Blackout Program #1916 Transcript". PBS. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  23. "Enron CEO Uses Vulgarity in Attack on Fund Manager". Fox News. April 18, 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  24. "Cree's Conference Call Blues". The Motley Fool. October 24, 2003. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  25. "From 'Assholes' at Enron to Insulting Steven Spielberg: 5 Big Conference Call Gaffes". The Hollywood Reporter. August 14, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  26. Pender, Kathleen (February 28, 2002). "JUST DESERTS?". SFGATE. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  27. Oppel, Jr., Richard a. (December 22, 2001). "Former Head of Enron Denies Wrongdoing". The New York Times. pp. Late Edition – Final, Section C, Page 1, Column 2.
  28. "Prepared Testimony of Jeffrey K. Skilling", House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations via findlaw.com, 2002-02-07, Retrieved June 27, 2007.
  29. United States of America v. Jeffrey K. Skilling and Richard A. Causey, Governments Motion to Modify Conditions of Defendant Skilling's Pretrial Release Order, April 21, 2004, (file:///Users/AJA/Downloads/usskllng42104mot.pdf)
  30. Kristen Hays, Tom Fowler and Thomas Korosec (September 20, 2006). "Skilling arrested, accused of public intoxication". Houston Chronicle.
  31. Pasha, Shaheen; Seid, Jessica (May 25, 2006). "Lay and Skilling's day of reckoning". CNN. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  32. Barrionuevo, Alexei (May 25, 2006). "Enron Chiefs Guilty of Fraud and Conspiracy". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
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