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NEW YORK -- Phillip R. Bennett, Refco Inc.'s former chief executive officer, was sentenced to 16 years in prison Thursday for his role in a scheme to hide the commodities broker's financial troubles. At a hearing, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan said white-collar defendants such as Mr. Bennett often "just don't think they'll get caught." "You and others like you play a truly high-stakes poker game," the judge said. The judge didn't impose a fine and said restitution will be discussed at a later date. Mr. Bennett has agreed to forfeit essentially all of his assets. The...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Troubled commodities brokerage Refco Inc. said on Monday it had filed for bankruptcy protection as it struck a deal to sell its core futures brokerage business to a group of private equity investors for $768 million (439 million pounds). New York-based Refco said it and certain subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday as part of the memorandum of understanding with investors. None of Refco's regulated subsidiaries -- its futures brokerage business, which is conducted through Refco LLC, Refco Overseas Ltd. and Refco Singapore Ltd, and its broker-dealer, Refco Securities LLC -- filed for bankruptcy...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Refco Inc., the commodities broker mired in an accounting scandal in which its chief executive hid bad debts from shareholders and regulators, said Thursday it will freeze customers' accounts in one of its subsidiaries for 15 days because it may not have enough cash on hand to operate normally. Refco Capital Markets Ltd., an offshore broker for stocks, bonds and currencies, is the subsidiary that former CEO Phillip Bennett, 57, allegedly used to help hide up to $545 million in bad debts. Bennett was indicted on federal charges Wednesday that he caused Refco to file...

NEW YORK (AP) -- One of the world's biggest commodities brokerages Monday said its chief executive took an indefinite leave of absence after the company discovered he had secretly transferred $430 million of the company's assets to a firm he controlled. Refco Inc. also said its financial statements since 2002 "should no longer be relied upon" and that it would delay filing its quarterly earnings release originally slated for next week. The news sent Refco shares plunging $12.96, or 45 percent, to close at $15.60 on the New York Stock Exchange. Refco, which became a publicly traded company in...