Take-Two CEO Senteced To 5-year Probation
August 2nd, 2007 Posted in Business
Even in the world of video games, there are real bad guys trying to get away with some nasty things. Former Take-Two CEO Ryan Brant has been sentenced to five years of probation for the back-dating stock option scam that was going on at Take-Two.
By cooperating with authorities, he avoided a potential four year prison sentence, although he still has to pay around $7 million in fines. Brant founded Take-Two in 1993 and resigned as CEO in late 2001. Several other former Take-Two employees are on trial as well for the incident.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:20 am
It doesn’t matter if it’s for video-games. Illegal actions always get punished. That guy needs some rest now. As for the money… he has enough to pay them and that isn’t a big threat to him.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
BS … this dude should be going to jail and doing some real time. I am so sick of these rich dudes getting off when they commit a feloney. You have some kid who is locked up for having oral sex with his girlfriend (he was 17 and she was 15 at the time .. both just kids) and yet this creep goes free after fattening the wallets of himself and his friends … that is just crap. I know that one of these T2 execs better be given some prison time … and you know what really irks me is that this person will be back on his feet and making games again within a couple of years. Watch.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Welcome to how the world works. No money? Go to jail. The government can fine you millions of dollars? Enjoy your Gucci ankle bracelet.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Sure it’s a crime what he did, but seriously, he didn’t hurt anyone, he didn’t kill or rape or molest anyone.
Sure white collar crimes are serious (ordinary people losing their money) and should be punished likewise, but sometimes people act like these guys are mass murderers in suits.
And as for that 17-year old kid jailed for getting a BJ… that’s a sad part in American law and history. The judge should be in jail for that mess.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:07 pm
So what he didn’t hurt anyone … that is not the point … laws are here for a reason … and a felony is a very serious offense … this is not a misdemenor man … this kind of thing really sends a ripple through the business community and affects consumer and market confidence. It is much more complex than you imagine. He should definitely be doing some time behind bars … along with any other felons who break the law.
Funny but it seems that we disagree on almost everything … it makes me wonder but whatever. It feels strange though that after every comment I make James you always take the opposing view and are ready to debate me. Is it just a coincedence?
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
My point is that crimes like those Brant committed should never get a higher priority than, say rape and murder. I’d much rather let a white collar criminal get away than a rapist.
And it doesn’t send “ripples through the business community”, Take-Two isn’t a huge corporation to which many people depend upon, like Enron for instance. Enron ruined thousands of families and shocked the stock market, among other things.
The Take Two incident was a petty crime compared to Enron (and WorldCom, for that matter). But law is law, as you put it.