In a verdict likely to spur extensive controversy, an Italian judge has ruled that seven earthquake experts are guilty of manslaughter in a case that charged them with providing flawed advice prior to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake.
Robert P. Hanssen, the former F.B.I. counterintelligence expert, pleaded guilty to charges that he had spied for Moscow since 1985, handing over many of the nation's most sensitive secrets.
A New Jersey man who the authorities say deceived retirees into believing he was a wealthy and influential investment expert pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing more than $27 million of their money, Robert M. Morgenthau, the Manhattan district attorney, said.
Even if Mr. Powell is found guilty, experts said it was highly unlikely that he would receive jail time.
In reality, though, experts may be guilty of more risk-related errors than the rest of us – or more consequential ones, anyhow.
One cellmate is being detained for her work on an exchange program for maternal and child health experts; others seem guilty of little else than their Bahai faith, considered heretical by the Islamic Republic.
Some experts said a guilty verdict would have taken a step toward reshaping the asset management industry by encouraging professionals to forgo investment decisions in favor the less-risky method of mimicking indexes.
Only one of the seven experts originally found guilty was convicted today: Bernardo De Bernardinis, who in 2009 was deputy head of Italy's Civil Protection Department and who will now serve 2 years in jail, pending any further appeals.
"Only one of the seven experts originally found guilty was convicted [Monday]: Bernardo De Bernardinis, who in 2009 was deputy head of Italy's Civil Protection Department and who will now serve 2 years in jail, pending any further appeals".
Both men, experts said afterward, were guilty of inaccuracies and overstatements.
