Ratchet it the hell back, will ya? I am talking about criminal charges, not "greenmail." If the government brings a case of securities fraud to you, and you "settle" with a US attorney, do you really think I'm going to believe there was nothing to their case? By the way, if you were a potential investor in someone's business, and you found out he'd settled with a US attorney to avoid jail, but now professes that he was innocent, but it was "just easier" than defending himself...would you still write the check? Or due some deeper due diligence? Or just run?
You're argument sounds right...but I still wonder. Let me think about it.