Watch CBS News

Ex-Enron Workers Await Justice

The clouds of scandal still hang heavy over Enron's Houston tower.

Its familiar symbol has now been stripped away, but a sense of executive betrayal lingers with Angie Lorio, still out of work after 28 years at Enron, reports .

"We all want that final day to come," says Lorio. "We want to see these guys put behind bars and pay the price."

If anything, Enron's collapse has become a lawyer's goldmine. More than 100 lawsuits have been filed. So far, 19 former executives have been indicted.

Former chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, indicted on 99 counts, is free on $5 million bond and is still awaiting a trial date.

Fastow's wife, Lea, a former Enron deputy treasurer, goes to trial next year.

"It's going to take a long time and the people who lost money may never recoup any or all of their losses," says John Teakell, a former federal prosecutor.

Still free of handcuffs are Enron's top officials.

Former CEO Jeff Skilling cashed in millions in Enron stock before the collapse and stays mostly secluded in his $4 million Houston home.

Enron founder Kenneth Lay kept his $7 million condo atop a Houston high-rise, but has sold multi-million dollar properties in Aspen. Lay still argues he never knew accountants cooked Enron's books.

Sherron Watkins, the Enron accountant who blew the whistle on the scandal, shared honors with other whistle-blowers for courage and added co-author to her career, says Lay was more the face of Enron than the force Jeff Skilling was.

"He wasn't the involved leader and Jeff Skilling used to joke, 'Do you think Ken Lay understands what we do? Naaahhh.'"

"I think Skilling will be indicted; Lay I'm kind of iffy on," she says.

The one-time star of big energy is being dissolved out of existence.

And at the ballpark that once bore its name, the caps, crystal, shirts and bats are the memorabilia few have any time for anymore.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.