Authorities are winding down their
criminal investigation of the failed
brokarage firm, MF Global, and despite
the lack of oversight and the loss of
more than $1 billion in customer funds,
it now seems unlikely that anyone at the
firm will face criminal charges.
The New York Times is reporting this
morning that after ten months of
investigation by federal prosecutors,
sources say there isn't even enough
evidence to charge any of the firm's
executives in a criminal probe. The
company may have failed spectacularly
when it came to oversight and risk
management, but the losses cannot be
chalked up to outright fraud.
The company placed a grossly outsized
bet (more than $6 billion worth) on the
health of the European debt market last
year and when it went south, the firm
"borrowed" money from the accounts of
its customers to try and salvage its own
losses. Most of the blame for those
trades fell on its CEO (and ex-New
Jersey governor) Jon Corzine, and while
his reputation and firm are ruined, it
seems he will escape any legal sanction.
He could still face massive civil
lawsuits or fines from regulators who
have a lower standard than a criminal
prosecution, but jail isn't in the
cards.
criminal investigation of the failed
brokarage firm, MF Global, and despite
the lack of oversight and the loss of
more than $1 billion in customer funds,
it now seems unlikely that anyone at the
firm will face criminal charges.
The New York Times is reporting this
morning that after ten months of
investigation by federal prosecutors,
sources say there isn't even enough
evidence to charge any of the firm's
executives in a criminal probe. The
company may have failed spectacularly
when it came to oversight and risk
management, but the losses cannot be
chalked up to outright fraud.
The company placed a grossly outsized
bet (more than $6 billion worth) on the
health of the European debt market last
year and when it went south, the firm
"borrowed" money from the accounts of
its customers to try and salvage its own
losses. Most of the blame for those
trades fell on its CEO (and ex-New
Jersey governor) Jon Corzine, and while
his reputation and firm are ruined, it
seems he will escape any legal sanction.
He could still face massive civil
lawsuits or fines from regulators who
have a lower standard than a criminal
prosecution, but jail isn't in the
cards.
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