Conrad Black Case Chronology
Posted July 13, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
2003
Nov. 17 – Black resigns as CEO of Hollinger International, which owns the London Telegraph, Chicago Sun-Times, Jerusalem Post and other media properties. Hollinger International is put up for sale.
Nov. 19 – U.S. and Canadian regulators disclose investigations after allegations Black and top executives pocketed millions of dollars in unauthorized fees.
Dec. 22 – Black cited his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to testify to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
2004
Jan. 16 – Hollinger International launches $200-million-US lawsuit against Hollinger Inc., the Toronto holding company through which Black controls the U.S.-based operating enterprise.
Jan. 18 – Black agrees to sell key newspaper titles, including the Telegraph group, to the Barclay brothers, British twin tycoons for $600 million US.
Jan. 21 – Black forced out as chairman of Hollinger International, replaced by Gordon Paris.
Feb. 13 – Black files $850-million defamation lawsuit against Paris and other Hollinger International directors.
Feb. 26 – Delaware court blocks Black’s attempt to sell the Telegraph to the Barclays.
May 7 – Hollinger International increases claim against Black and others to $1.25 billion US, alleging racketeering.
June 22 – Hollinger International agrees to sell Telegraph to the Barclays for $1.3 billion US.
Sept. 8 – A Regina lawyer launches class-action lawsuits against Black, his wife and associates, seeking at least $4 billion on behalf of shareholders.
Oct. 8 – Hollinger International’s $1.25-billion-US lawsuit against Black and others is dismissed. It is later revised, without the corrupt-organization allegation, to demand $425 million.
Oct. 28 – Black bids to buy out minority shareholders of Hollinger Inc. and take it private; days later, he resigns as the holding company’s CEO and chairman to clear the way for the proposed buyout.
Nov. 15 – SEC files fraud charges against Black and longtime deputy David Radler, accusing them of using Hollinger International as their personal piggy bank.
2005
Feb. 25 – Court documents reveal Black threatened to sue independent directors of Hollinger Inc. if they stall his attempt to privatize the company.
March 18 – Ontario Securities Commission launches proceedings against Black and allies over transactions including Hollinger’s $3.2-billion sale of Canadian newspapers to CanWest Global in 2000.
March 28 – OSC disallows Black’s bid to buy out Hollinger Inc. minority shareholders.
March 29 – Hollinger Inc. sues Black, other former directors and related corporations for $636 million over management fees and non-competition payments.
April 13 – Hollinger Inc. issues notice to Ravelston Corp., the private firm through which Black holds controlling stakes in the Hollinger companies, to vacate downtown Toronto building by May 31 for failing to pay rent.
April 20 – Black and Radler resign from Ravelston, which files for bankruptcy protection and is placed in receivership.
Aug. 18 – Radler, former Hollinger lawyer Mark Kipnis and Toronto-based Ravelston Corp. are indicted on five counts each of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud. They are accused of cheating shareholders in the United States and Canada, as well as Canadian tax authorities.
Sept. 20 – Radler pleads guilty to mail fraud and agrees to a lighter-than-expected 29-month prison sentence and a $250,000 US fine. He plans to testify against others in the alleged fraud.
Nov. 17 – Black, and former Hollinger directors John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson are charged with fraud and warrants issued for their arrests. Black and Boultbee are charged with eight counts of mail and wire fraud, and Atkinson with six. New charges are laid against Kipnis.
Nov. 30 – Boultbee fails to show up for his arraignment. Is given a few extra days to turn in before extradition begins.
Dec. 1 – Black and Atkinson plead not guilty to fraud charges. Black released on $20 million US bond, can only reside in Canada, Florida or Chicago.
Dec. 7 – U.S. Attorney’s Office warns it may lay new charges; Boultbee pleads not guilty to eight counts of fraud and was released on a $1.5-million-US cash bond.
Dec. 15 – Prosecutors add racketeering and obstruction of justice allegations to Black’s charges.
Dec. 16 – Black pleads not guilty to new charges, trial set for March 2007.
2006
Jan. 11 – Hollinger International sells the bulk of its remaining Canadian papers for $121.7 million.
Jan. 24 – An Ontario Securities Commission hearing against Black and his associates gets pushed back to June 2007.
May 15 – Hollinger Inc. signs a deal to co-operate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jul. 6 – Hollinger sues Black and his associates for more than $700 million.
Jul. 17 – Hollinger International changes name to Sun-Times Media Group.
Aug. 17 – Prosecutors add tax evasion charges to Black’s indictment.
Aug. 30 – Ontario court freezes some of Black’s assets.
Sept. 26 – Black says he’s using “the normal channels” to regain Canadian citizenship.
Dec. 29 – Black files a claim against Hollinger Inc. seeking nearly $20.6 million plus interest relating to money paid by him to Sun-Times Media Group.
2007
Jan. 16 – Randall Benson steps down as chief restructuring officer for Hollinger Inc., Wesley Voorheis becomes CEO.
Jan. 23 – Judge rules Black and his co-defendants will be tried together.
Feb. 26 – Hollinger Inc. settles all of its disputes with five former directors by paying just under $2 million.
Mar. 5 – Ravelston pleads guilty to one count of fraud.
Mar. 7 – Prosecutors get approval to put “co-conspirators” on the witness stand to tell inside details of Black’s role in the alleged fraud.
Mar. 8 – Hollinger Inc. catches up on years of overdue financial filings, reports deepening losses and saying its future is in doubt.
Mar.14 – Case against Black and associates to open in a Chicago courtroom.
Jul. 10 – After months of testimony – including the damaging confession from Black’s closest business associate David Radler – the jury returns complaining it’s hopelessly deadlocked. The judge orders them to return and try again.
Jul. 13 – After 12 days of deliberation, the verdict arrives. Black is found guilty of four of the 13 charges against him, including obstruction of justice and mail fraud. He could receive 25 years in jail. His three co-defendants are also found guilty of mail fraud.
Dec. 10 – Judge’s sentences Black to 6.5 years in jail and orders him to report to prison in 12 weeks.
