Dylan Ratigan: Where are the handcuffs? Fraud in the financial system. Oh, by the way, Angelo Mozilo WALKS!!

February 17, 2011 on the Dylan Ratigan Show: Where are the handcuffs? Thousands jailed during the S and L crisis. Why not know? Charles Ferguson, director of the "Inside Job" share with Dylan Ratigan that everyone within the Obama Administration refused an interview request for the "Inside Job" documentary.

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If this interview didn't get you blood boiling, how about news the very next day!

Mozilo's actions in the mortgage meltdown

which led to $67.5-million settlement against him

did not amount to criminal wrongdoing,

federal prosecutors have determined

Los Angeles Times
February 18, 2011
By E. Scott Reckard
 


As the former chairman of Countrywide Financial Corp., Mozilo helped fuel the boom in risky subprime loans that led to the crippling of the banking industry and the near-collapse of the financial system.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles began probing Mozilo in 2008, and four months ago he agreed to pay a $22.5-million fine and to repay $45 million in what the government said were ill-gotten gains to former Countrywide shareholders. The payments settled a civil action by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

But the criminal investigation has wound down without indictments of Mozilo or others at his Calabasas company, according to people familiar with both the prosecution and the defense teams, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

"Sometimes the public thinks all you have to do is to indict someone and that's it," one of the federal sources said. "But you have to be able to prove your case, and it can be worse losing a case than not bringing one at all."

The 72-year-old Mozilo hung up the phone when contacted for comment at his home in the Lake Sherwood golf community of Ventura County.

The criminal investigation into Mozilo was never announced publicly, and as a rule federal prosecutors make no formal announcement when such cases are closed.

One defense attorney, however, said the government would probably keep a close watch on civil litigation by Countrywide shareholders against Mozilo and could still decide to bring charges depending on what develops in those cases.

"He may have to testify, and you never know what may come up," the attorney said.

Asst. U.S. Atty. Stephen A. Cazares, who spearheaded the Countrywide criminal probe, could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for U.S. Atty. Andre Birotte Jr. said the office would have no comment "at this time." If you dare to care, keep reading









Federal prosecutors have shelved a criminal investigation of Angelo R. Mozilo after determining that his actions in the mortgage meltdown — which led to $67.5-million settlement against him — did not amount to criminal wrongdoing.