The Trial of The Century: The Enron Trial

Enron was truly a Trial of the Century. It had everything; massive egos, bigger than life lawyers and a massive fraud. On this special series from the Compliance Podcast Network, Tom fox is joined by Loren Steffy who was a business journalist while it was all happening. Tune in for his reflections and new insights on the first Trial of the Century for the 21st Century.

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Episodes

Episode 5: What is the Legacy of Enron and the Trial of the Century?

The final episode in The Enron Trial series is here. In part 5, Tom Fox and Loren Steffy take a look at Enron’s legacy, fifteen years after the trial. Why Should the Trial Be Remembered? “What the trial really brought home for everyone was the human toll that these kinds of corporate malfeasance cases can have,” explains Loren. When companies try to do whatever is necessary to keep their stock prices up at all costs, a lot of long-term harm comes out of it, “Enron wasn't only an accounting failu...

Jan 25, 2022•18 min•Ep. 6

Episode 4: The Enron Trial - The Verdict Comes In

Loren Steffy and Tom Fox have another conversation as The Enron Trial series nears the end. In episode 4, Loren Steffy recalls the aftermath of the guilty verdict. The Verdict and Counts of Conviction Jeffrey Skilling was convicted of 19 counts, his sentence totaling 185 years, and Kenneth Lay was looking at 120 years in prison. Skilling was actually sentenced to 17 years, which was then reduced to 12. Kenneth Lay passed away prior to his sentencing, and so, the verdict was vacated. The Prosecut...

Jan 24, 2022•16 min•Ep. 5

Episode 3: The Enron Trial - The Testimony

Loren Steffy and Tom Fox sit down for part 3 of The Enron Trial series. In this episode, they discuss some of the significant testimonies by witnesses, and the effect they had on the trial. The Star Witnesses Loren names Andrew Fastow, former CFO, and Ben Glisan, former Treasurer, as the star witnesses in the trial. However, the most moving testimony for him, as an observer, was that of Joanne Cortez, Enron’s bookkeeper. “She was a very credible witness,” said Loren, “and to me, it just showed h...

Jan 24, 2022•16 min•Ep. 4

Episode 2: The Enron Trial - Trial of the Century

Loren Steffy and Tom Fox are back for another episode in The Enron Trial series. Here, Loren discusses the atmosphere in the courthouse, and what he observed over the course of the five-month-long trial. The Trial Begins “This was a criminal trial, but it was the trial of the century,” Loren believes; not only due to the company’s popularity, but because prosecution of executives was something that was not often seen. They are very difficult cases to prove, and Enron was no different. The Prosec...

Jan 24, 2022•17 min•Ep. 3

Episode 1: The Enron Trial - Prelude to the Trial

The five-part series on the Enron Trial kicks off with Tom Fox and actual trial attendee, Loren Steffy. This first episode highlights the major events that led up to the beginning of the trial, many years ago. Enron in the Early Years Enron was once the seventh biggest publicly traded company in America. When natural gas trading was deregulated, Enron made a name for themselves by creating a platform that allowed for easy trade of natural gas contracts. The Downfall of Enron As Enron grew, they ...

Jan 24, 2022•17 min•Ep. 2

Introducing The Trial of the Century: The Enron Trial

Join Tom Fox and guest host, Loren Steffy, as they look back on the Enron Trial after 15 years. Loren was there and has a unique insight into the prosecution, defense, and all the players in this Trial of the Century.

Jan 14, 2022•59 sec•Ep. 1