Top > Business > 2006 > November > 2006-11-04

Convicted Enron Chief Executive May be Sent to North Carolina Prison

The Federal Correction Institution Bunter is a medium-security prison situated in North Carolina. This may be the new home of Jeff Skilling, former Chief Executive of Enron, if the Federal Bureau of Prisons heeds the suggestion of US District Judge Sim Lake. Skilling was sentenced to spend 24 years behind bars for his role in the biggest fraud case in American history. He was found guilty of fraud, conspiracy, lying to auditors and insider trading. Almost 4000 Enron employees lost their jobs, and many of them, their life savings as well.

Judge Sim Lake recommended that Skilling be sent to Bunter, a federal corrections institute in what is known as the Research Triangle (made up of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill). The complex is made up of two medium-security prisons and a high-security prison in a nearby complex. Skilling might become one of 3360 inmates and served by 960 staff members if place can be found for him in Bunter. At the moment, lack of space might be the only reason that the Federal Bureau of Prisons might reject Judge Lake?s suggestion and move him elsewhere.

Bunter has a number of high-celebrity inmates. Serving life imprisonment in the complex in Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted for passing top-secret information to Israel. Many people, including top legal analysts and politicians, feel that Pollard?s sentence was far too tough for the crimes committed and there are on-going campaigns calling for his release. Republican politician Duke Cunningham is also serving time in Bunter for accepting bribes.