Free Republic

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, who is serving a 24-year prison term for his role in the energy giant's epic collapse, could get out of prison early under an agreement being discussed by his attorneys and the Justice Department, CNBC has learned. Skilling, who was convicted in 2006 of conspiracy, fraud and insider trading, has served just over six years. It is not clear how much his sentence would be shortened under the deal.

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Former Enron chief executive Jeff Skilling lost the first half of the fight of his life when a jury convicted him nearly four years ago for committing fraud while at the helm of the once high-flying energy trader. On Monday before the U.S. Supreme Court, lawyers for federal prisoner 29296-179 will take their last shot at shredding a lower court's conviction that sentenced him to 24 years in jail. If Skilling succeeds, his sentence could be shortened or he could win a new trial. The federal government already has a 0-2 Enron record before the high court...

When a forest fire shut down a major transmission line into California, cutting power supplies and raising prices, Enron energy traders celebrated, CBS News Correspondent reports. "Burn, baby, burn. That's a beautiful thing," a trader sang about the massive fire. Four years after California's disastrous experiment with energy deregulation, Enron energy traders can be heard – on audiotapes obtained by CBS News – gloating and praising each other as they helped bring on, and cash-in on, the Western power crisis. "He just f---s California," says one Enron employee. "He steals money from California to the tune of about a million."...

HOUSTON- Former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeff Skilling surrendered to the FBI Thursday following reports that he had been indicted by a federal grand jury for his part in the collapse of the former energy trading giant. Skilling, 50, entered FBI headquarters in Houston accompanied by about six attorneys at 6:52 local time. Skilling has denied any wrongdoing, but news reports said he was named in a sealed indictment handed up to a federal magistrate on Wednesday. He is expected to appear in court later in the day. Citing personal reasons, Skilling resigned from Enron in August 2001, four months...