Ex-Enron accounting chief to plead guilty: reports

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Richard Causey, Enron Corp.’s former
chief accountant, is expected on Wednesday to plead guilty to
at least one criminal charge related to the energy trader’s
collapse, the Wall Street Journal said in its online edition on
Tuesday, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The Houston Chronicle on its Web site cited sources close
to the case as also saying Causey is expected to plead guilty.
A hearing is set for Wednesday at 2 p.m. CST (2000 GMT) before
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, the Chronicle said.

Reid Weingarten, a lawyer for Causey, did not immediately
return a call seeking comment.

Causey’s cooperation might be damaging for Enron’s former
chairman, Kenneth Lay, and former president, Jeffrey Skilling.

A jury trial of the three men on conspiracy, fraud and
other charges over alleged accounting misdeeds at Enron is
expected to begin next month. All three previously pleaded not
guilty.

Enron filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2001. Lay
and Skilling each served as Enron’s chief executive.