Enron CFO Wife's Trial Stays in Houston

HOUSTON -- The wife of former Enron Corp. chief financial officer Andrew Fastow will go to trial in Houston, a judge ruled Monday, according to The Associated Press.

Lea Fastow is charged with six counts of filing false tax returns and conspiracy for allegedly participating in and profiting from some of the schemes that led to Enron's downfall in late 2001. She sought to have her trial moved to escape negative publicity.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner denied her change of venue motion Monday. A similar motion in another court remains pending for her husband, who is charged with nearly 100 counts related to his activities at Enron.

Both Andrew and Lea Fastow, who hails from a prominent Houston real estate family and once was an assistant treasurer at Enron, have pleaded innocent. Her trial is scheduled for Feb. 10.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 11/17/03