Conrad Black
Canadian and British newspaper publisher (born 1944)
- Entries
- 12
- On the record
- 7
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Jul 9, 2024
The record
Conrad Black built his record as a newspaper owner and as a peer. He was chairman and chief executive of Hollinger International, and from October 2001 he sat in the House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour, first as a Conservative and from July 2007 as a non-affiliated member. His membership ended in July 2024 for non-attendance, according to the UK Parliament's own record.
In November 2004 the SEC sued him, David Radler and Hollinger Inc. in Chicago, alleging they diverted cash and assets from Hollinger International between about 1999 and 2003, including roughly $85 million in purported non-competition payments. The criminal case followed. In July 2007 a federal jury convicted him on three counts of mail fraud and one of obstruction of justice and acquitted him on nine other counts, including racketeering.
The U.S. Supreme Court vacated the appeals ruling against him in 2010, two of the four counts were later overturned, and in June 2011 he was resentenced to 42 months, down from the 78 months imposed in 2007. He was released in May 2012 and returned to Toronto. Canada ended his Order of Canada appointment in 2014, and President Trump pardoned him in May 2019.
Roles and honours on the record
- as of 2004 Former chairman and CEO of Hollinger International, named as a defendant in the SEC's civil complaint source
- 2001-2024 Member of the House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour; Conservative to July 2007, then non-affiliated source
- until 2014 Officer of the Order of Canada, appointment terminated by the Governor General source
Every entry, newest first
- Ruled
Supreme Court narrowed honest-services fraud, vacated the appeals ruling in his case and sent it back for review. Biggest celebrity frauds ranked: Ebbers's $11B WorldCom first
- Ruled
Sentenced to 6.5 years after a 2007 conviction over a $6.1 million Hollinger fraud, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. Biggest celebrity frauds ranked: Ebbers's $11B WorldCom first
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2001-10-30 Official Black joined the House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour, sitting as a Conservative. UK Parliament, member record
- 2004-11-15 Filed The SEC sued Black, F. David Radler and Hollinger Inc. in federal court in Illinois, alleging a scheme from about 1999 to 2003 to divert cash and assets from Hollinger International, including about $85 million through purported non-competition payments. It sought disgorgement, penalties and officer-and-director bars. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Litigation Release No. 18969
- 2007-07-13 Ruled A federal jury in Chicago convicted Black on three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice and acquitted him on nine other counts, including racketeering and tax fraud. His lawyer Edward Greenspan said the defense would appeal. NBC News report
- 2007-12-10 Ruled U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve sentenced Black to 78 months in prison and fined him $125,000. NBC News report
- 2010-06-24 Ruled In Black v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the defendants had preserved their challenge to the honest-services jury instructions, vacated the Seventh Circuit's judgment and sent the case back for the lower court to decide whether the error was harmless. U.S. Supreme Court, No. 08-876 (LII syllabus)
- 2011-06-24 Ruled With two of the four counts overturned on appeal, Judge St. Eve resentenced Black to 42 months for the remaining fraud and obstruction convictions, meaning 13 more months after the 29 already served. In court Black said: "I never ask for mercy." Al Jazeera report
- 2012-05 Reported Black was released from FCC Coleman in Florida and returned to Toronto on a one-year temporary resident permit, having earlier renounced his Canadian citizenship, Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera report
- 2014-01-31 Official The Governor General signed an ordinance terminating Black's appointment to the Order of Canada; the notice was published in the Canada Gazette. Canada Gazette, Part I, Government House notice
- 2019-05-15 Official President Trump pardoned Black for mail fraud and attempted obstruction of justice in the Northern District of Illinois, where his sentence had been amended to 42 months in 2011. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney
- 2024-07-09 Official Black's membership of the House of Lords ended because of non-attendance. UK Parliament, member record
Documents
- SEC Litigation Release No. 18969, SEC v. Black, Radler and Hollinger Inc. (Nov. 15, 2004)
- Syllabus, Black v. United States, No. 08-876 (June 24, 2010)
- Pardons granted by President Donald J. Trump, 2017-2021
- Canada Gazette notice terminating the Order of Canada appointment (Feb. 22, 2014)
- UK Parliament member record, Lord Black of Crossharbour