Jeffrey Skilling

Jeffrey Skilling
Mug shot of Skilling in 2004
Born
Jeffrey Keith Skilling

(1953-11-25) November 25, 1953 (age 70)
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[1] (originally 24 years), $45 million fine; sentence reduced as a result of Skilling v. United States

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,[2][3] vacated part of Skilling's conviction, and transferred the case back to the lower court for resentencing.[4]

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.[5] Skilling appealed this new decision to the Supreme Court,[6] but the appeal was denied.[7]

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.[8][9] He was moved to a halfway house in 2018[10] and released from custody in 2019, after serving 12 years.[11]

  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. ^ Cite error: The named reference AP101309 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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. ^ Cite error: The named reference FuleFix2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference SCourt2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.