Fastow's former mansion burns - Fire investigated at home that ex-Enron CFO sold to executive

Associated Press ^ | December 2, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Fastow's former mansion burns

Fire investigated at home that ex-Enron CFO sold to executive

12/02/2002

Associated Press

HOUSTON - The Houston Fire Department is investigating a fire at the three-story, 11,493-square-foot River Oaks mansion that former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow once owned.

The house, which was sold to another energy company official for $3.9 million in October, caught fire early Sunday.

"It is under investigation," said Houston Fire Department spokesman Jay Evans. "That is all we are going to say about it at this time."

Firefighters received the call about 3 a.m. Mr. Evans described the fire as "very small" and said it was contained in the front portion of the house, which federal prosecutors have accused Mr. Fastow of building with laundered money.

The proceeds of the sale to Thomas Hook, chief financial officer of Hilcorp Energy, and his wife, Laura, will be turned over to the U.S. Marshal's Service until a judge rules on whether the money was taken from Enron.

Mr. Hook did not immediately return a phone message left Sunday by The Associated Press. About $300,000 of work remained on the house when the couple purchased it. It was not clear whether they had moved into the home.

Video shot by KPRC-TV showed a large gas can near the front door of the home as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Mr. Evans declined to comment on the report.

Fastow spokesman Gordon Andrew said the Fastows were not in Houston on Sunday.

"He doesn't own that house anymore," Mr. Andrew said.

Last month, Mr. Fastow pleaded not guilty to a 78-count federal indictment charging him with masterminding complex financial schemes that enriched him and helped doom the energy trading powerhouse that filed for bankruptcy a year ago.

The indictment alleges Mr. Fastow and others created schemes to defraud Enron and its shareholders through transactions with off-the-books partnerships that made the company look far more profitable than it was.

Enron's collapse was only the first in a series of corporate scandals that sent investors fleeing from the stock market.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/120202dntexfastow.5a6c2.html

[ampat]

I figured it was just a matter of time before the (CEO) mega-houses started to burn. Too bad he already sold it. Yeh, I know it was probably insured, but you know how some rednecks are. Reminds me of the redneck who was told by a judge to giveup his truck when he defaulted on the payments. He did just that, he drove it through the front door of the judge's home.

[gatex]

"...but you know how some rednecks ..."

Define redneck and tell us how you are better.

[Frapster]

In an unrelated incident - Mr. Fastow broke wind at church yesterday causing several nearby women to faint from embarassment. Developing.