WORLD / America

    Facing prison, Lay believed he had future
    (AP)
    Updated: 2006-07-06 22:21

    Just last week, Enron Corp. founder and convicted felon Kenneth Lay told his pastor he was at peace with his future, even if it included prison. Lay maintained that he was innocent of fraud and conspiracy in Enron's searing scandal that left thousands jobless and wiped out billions from investors.

    The former corporate celebrity who ascended from near-poverty as a minister's son in Missouri to the pinnacle of America's business elite died Wednesday of what a county coroner said was heart disease while vacationing in Aspen, Colo. He was 64.


    Enron founder Kenneth Lay, right, waits at a crossing as co-defendant Jeffrey Skilling walks up in the background as they go to the federal courthouse in the 11th week of his fraud and conspiracy trial Wednesday, April 12, 2006 in a Houston fiole photo. Lay, who was convicted of helping perpetuate one of the most sprawling business frauds in US history, has died of a heart attack in Colorado. He was 64. [AP]

    "I know he looked to be in good health. He looked like things were going well for him. He was in church last Sunday," said his pastor, Steve Wende of Houston's First United Methodist Church.

    Lay faced spending the rest of his life in prison after his convictions May 25 that ended a blockbuster trial stemming from one of the biggest business debacles in US history.

    Wende said Lay told him last week that he was at peace with what he may face, and he bore no ill will toward jurors who convicted him.

    "What he did feel like was that he had a future. He even brought up the subject of prison and said if he did go to prison, he felt like God could use him there," Wende said.

    Scott Thompson, chief deputy coroner in Pitkin County, Colo., said Lay died of natural causes. Dr. Robert Kurtzman, Mesa County coroner in Grand Junction, Colo., said an autopsy showed Lay died of heart disease. He said there was evidence that Lay had also suffered a previous heart attack.

    Lay was considered a visionary who had President Bush's ear during Enron's halcyon days, but his reputation and monumental wealth shattered with that of his company. He spent his last years optimistically insisting he was no criminal, even after he became a felon.

    "I guess when you're facing the rest of your life in jail and in your heart you know you're an innocent man, I guess it's too much to bear," said close friend Willie Alexander of Lay's sudden death.

    Lay had stayed out of the public eye since he and former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling were convicted May 25 of fraud and conspiracy for lying to employees and investors about Enron's financial health. Lay was convicted of six counts of fraud and conspiracy, while Skilling was convicted of 19 of 28 counts of fraud, conspiracy, insider trading and lying to auditors.

    Lay also was convicted of bank fraud and lying to banks in a separate, non-jury trial related to his personal banking.

    Lay was scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 23, along with Skilling, who also faces a long prison term. Lay's death will not affect the government's case against Skilling, who will appeal his convictions.

    Skilling's lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, described the ex-CEO as "devastated."

    "Jeff and Ken worked closely over the years, and Jeff will miss him dearly," Petrocelli said.


    Page: 12

     
     

    亚洲高清有码中文字| 最新国产精品无码| 野花在线无码视频在线播放| 亚洲?v无码国产在丝袜线观看| 国产色无码专区在线观看| 无码精品A∨在线观看中文| 国产精品无码一区二区三区电影| 自拍中文精品无码| 无码AV中文一区二区三区| 91精品日韩人妻无码久久不卡 | 国产精品亚洲αv天堂无码| 国产又爽又黄无码无遮挡在线观看 | 人妻丰满熟妇A v无码区不卡| 亚洲国产AV无码专区亚洲AV| 欧美视频中文字幕| 亚洲日韩VA无码中文字幕| 久久久久亚洲AV无码麻豆| 一本本月无码-| 中文字幕天天躁日日躁狠狠躁免费 | 最近免费中文字幕大全高清大全1| 亚洲av无码专区在线观看下载| 午夜无码中文字幕在线播放| 无码A级毛片免费视频内谢| 最近高清中文在线字幕在线观看| 色综合久久无码中文字幕| 中文字幕 qvod| 中文字幕无码久久人妻| 亚洲 无码 在线 专区| 久久国产三级无码一区二区| 国产AV无码专区亚洲Av| 日韩精品无码久久久久久| 无码人妻精品一区二区三区99仓本| 国产AⅤ无码专区亚洲AV| 无码av人妻一区二区三区四区| 中文无码精品一区二区三区| 亚洲欧洲中文日韩av乱码| 亚洲av午夜国产精品无码中文字 | 国产成人无码AⅤ片在线观看| 中文字幕在线资源| 最好看的最新高清中文视频| 精品人妻无码区在线视频|