The Enron scandal led former CEO Jeff Skilling to a lengthy prison sentence.
But it also led to lucrative moves to law firms, promotions or academic careers for several of the federal prosecutors who dogged him and other corporate crooks.
Two of the three prosecutors who headlined the trial of Skilling and former Enron Chairman Ken Lay have left government work for law firms with deep pockets. The third is considering options.
Several prosecutors have done the same, though others chose different paths after serving an Enron tour of duty.
Upon Skilling’s sentencing last week to 24 years and four months in prison for 19 criminal counts, the Justice Department said its Enron Task Force was disbanding after nearly five years, more than 30 indictments, 16 guilty pleas and five trials with a mixed record of success.
Their experience in chasing crimes made task force members hot commodities to law firms offering big money, said Adam Gershowitz, a professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston.
