An indictment -- on charges of either insider trading, obstruction of justice or both -- could come as early as this week, two people briefed on the investigation said yesterday.
Garrett Bauer, 44, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to insider trading, obstruction of justice and money laundering in a conspiracy that netted some $37 million.
Mr. Benhamou has pleaded guilty to insider trading and obstruction of justice.
Stewart is currently under investigation for insider trading and obstruction of justice related to the ImClone Systems scandal.
Prosecutors have not charged her with insider trading, but rather with obstruction of justice and securities fraud, contending that she lied about her actions.
With 153 continuing investigations covering possible accounting fraud, securities fraud, insider trading, mortgage servicer improprieties, obstruction of justice and other possible misconduct, it could not be more important that the person who takes over continues his vigorous approach.
Prosecutors are looking into the possibility of insider trading as well as obstruction of justice, and in the letter last week, Representative Billy Tauzin, Republican of Louisiana and the chairman of the House committee investigating ImClone, alluded to the possibility that the panel had been misled.
Removable shutters used to secure the stalls overnight were stacked against the sides of the stalls during trading hours, causing further obstruction, while on those stalls fitted with doors the doors opened outwards to maximise the limited space inside the units.
Dr. Waksal is expected to plead guilty to charges of insider trading, bank fraud, perjury and obstruction of justice, these people said.
Studying chitinases in New York City firefighters after World Trade Center exposure revealed that increased serum chitotriosidase reduced the odds of developing pulmonary obstruction after World Trade Center-particulate matter exposure and was associated with recovery of lung function.
(Waksal eventually agreed to plead guilty to the insider-trading charges and also to obstruction of justice and tax fraud, among other charges. He is currently serving a seven-year federal sentence. As part of the bargain, his relatives avoided criminal prosecution).
