Conrad Black goes to Alcatraz


No one except Clint Eastwood has ever escaped from Alcatraz. Of course, he did it in a movie. No one ever managed this feat in real life.

Alcatraz closed years ago. But Conrad Black may want to watch a few prison flicks before he's sent up the same river.

Black, the former head of newspaper company Hollinger Inc. (TSE: HLG), was charged with racketeering and misuse of corporate funds. He was found "not guilty" on those charges.

He was convicted of mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors said that Black and three associates funneled money from the sales of Hollinger newspapers into accounts which they controlled. The money, as much as $60 million, was to pay for Hollinger not to compete with the firms that bought its newspaper properties. Nice work, if you can find it.

Black now faces up to 35 years in prison, as much as $1 million in fines, and a lot of legal fees. At age 62, the member of the House of Lords may not make it out alive.

Sixty million is a lot to make disappear without people noticing. Black can think of better ways to do it next time while he is on his break from making license plates.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

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