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Chicago lawyer sentenced in massive fraud

Posted January 13, 2010 10:00 pm

NEW YORK -- A Chicago lawyer has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a federal judge who said his excessive loyalty to Refco Inc. led him to help the company carry out a $2.4 billion fraud.

Lawyer Joseph P. Collins was sentenced Thursday after he was convicted at trial of conspiracy and other charges in a huge fraud at the commodities brokerage giant.

Federal Judge Robert Patterson said federal sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of up to 85 years.

Refco filed for bankruptcy in 2005. It was once the nation's largest independent commodities broker.

Collins testified that Refco executives did not reveal the fraud to him.

Former Refco CEO Phillip Bennett is serving 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud.

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