Martha who ...?

[basketcase]

Interesting thought ...

What is your verdict?

[lancew]

Martha used to be a broker, and was more recently an officer of a publicly traded company. She knew the rules.

The first and most important rule in the securities business is Always Tell The Truth. I am in the securities trading business (it's not as sexy as it sounds, nor am I Gordon Gecko, believe me), and I have seen and made mistakes that make Martha's $51,000 gain look like a rounding error. When you make trades worth millions of bucks over the phone with nothing in writing, honesty is the most important quality you can seek in a person. (we go to the tapes when we have to)

Had she told the truth, whatever it was, and admitted to having done wrong, she would have gotten a fine and been forgiven. Mistakes happen. She could have even admitted to hearing insider info and panicking (though she knew it was wrong) and would have still only gotten a fine, but she decided to lie. She's getting exactly what she deserves.

[BradfordBenn]

I think that she has been taking too much of the news media attention. There are other things to cover than her and Michael Jackson.

I think if Janklow's trial had this must attention, the sentence would have been much longer in duration.

[ian408]

Martha's guilty as sin. But you know what? How much money
have we (just the US taxpayer) spent on this? What have we
received?

It's just absurd the amount of money this trial has cost vs. the
justice delivered. I mean how many people trade on non-public
information and don't get caught or use the guise of planned
trading?

I'm not suggesting she should get off but justice would have
been better served by treble damages and denying her the
ability to run a public company again.

Just my $.02 worth.

Ian

[oldcarkook]

She's guilty as sin. It was an inconsequential trade for her and that's why she didn't take careful measures. "A lousy $50k profit is nothing"

As a former stockbroker herself, she clearly knows the rules and I'm sure she has traded inside information for MUCH larger gains, but those were carefully covered.

She was patient one, victim one, prosecution one, whatever you want to say, but she was guilty and a well advised jury asked all the right questions and honed in on the real issues and found her to be guilty.

We have a great system here. Now why couldn't that jury have presided over some other sensational trials and come up with the same verdict when we expected it.

Martha will do her time, and she will be respectful of the system for it. It has ruined her and she had it coming. She knew the rules but she seemed to have that invincible attitude and now she's been set straight.

I'm not too sure she will have a room mate though as I would expect her to be a high security risk and accordingly, she will sit in a plexiglass booth with the lights on 24/7 for 3 years before she becomes eligible for parole. This is all of course after five years of appeals.

[Cliffy777]

Before learning that (I am assuming it is true) I was more tolerant. However, if she knew the rules and broke them AND then lied, I say through the book at her - but not too hard!
I agree with BB, let her pay treble damages and be done with it.

[oldcarkook]

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/photos/bikes/marthastewart.gif

[R80RTJohnny]

As a woman of such great wealth why would she worry about anything under 1 million?

The rich are truly different I guess.

[crvalley]

Yeah...she's guilty of lying...so what!

Did she bilk millions out of people? Did she steal the well-earned retirement money out of the hands of blue-collar workers? No.

She's guilty of lying.

The media ate this up like hyenas at a fallen water buffalo, and so did we everytime we turned on the TV.

Meanwhile, the Enron clan has yet to see a day of true justice to fit the crimes they committed.

[kbasa]

Aren't Lay and Fastow in jail now?

[ian408]

Originally posted by KBasa
Aren't Lay and Fastow in jail now?

They did the Perp Walk but aren't they're out on bail?

Ian

[DarrylRi]

Fastow and his wife plea bargained. He's getting 5 years.

Skilling is under indictment, but they say it could be a couple years before they actually bring him to trial.

Lay is still walking free.