Kenneth Lay Conviction Erased

Apparently, if you die before sentencing or appeal, your conviction never happened. Now, I don't consider myself a conspiracy theorist, but I find the timing of Ken Lay's death to be suspicious given this recent news.

ENRON: Judge erases jury's verdict against Lay

The ruling thwarts the government's bid to seek $43.5 million in ill-gotten gains prosecutors allege he pocketed by participating in Enron's fraud. The government could still pursue those gains in civil court, but they would have to compete with other litigants, if any, also pursuing Lay's estate.

JUDGE VOIDS CONVICTIONS AGAINST LAY

The Department of Justice had argued against vacating the conviction, saying it would unjustly enrich Lay's estate by preventing criminal forfeiture proceedings to recover restitution for victims of Enron's downfall.

The government even proposed a law that would prevent courts from vacating criminal convictions in such circumstances. That effort didn't succeed.