Enron was founded in 1985 and over the subsequent decade and a half became the No. 1 energy trader in the U.S. :
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August 2000 — Enron shares reach high of $90.
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2001
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Oct. 16 — Enron announces $638 million in third-quarter losses and a $1.2 billion reduction in shareholder equity stemming from writeoffs related to failed broadband and water trading ventures as well as unwinding of so-called Raptors, or fragile entities backed by falling Enron stock created to hedge inflated asset values and keep hundreds of millions of dollars in debt off the energy company's books.
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Oct. 19 — Securities and Exchange Commission launches inquiry into Enron finances.
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Dec. 2 — Enron goes bankrupt, thousands of workers laid off.
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2002
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Jan. 9 — Justice Department confirms it has begun a criminal investigation of Enron.
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Jan. 10 — The White House discloses Lay sought help from two Cabinet members shortly before the company collapsed, but neither offered aid. The company's auditor, Arthur Andersen LLP, says it has destroyed tons of Enron documents.
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Jan. 23 — Lay resigns as chairman and CEO.
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March 14 — Former Enron auditor Arthur Andersen LLP indicted for destroying Enron-related documents to thwart investigators.
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June 15 — Andersen convicted.
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Oct. 31 — Fastow indicted on 78 charges of conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and other counts.
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2003
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April 30 — Counts against Fastow increased to 98, while his wife Lea is charged with tax crimes and conspiracy for participating in some of husband's deals. Five other former broadband executives charged with lying to Wall Street and investors about capabilities of Enron's broadband network to inflate company stock. Former Enron treasurer Ben Glisan Jr., pictured at left, charged with conspiracy and money laundering for participating in Fastow-controlled deals. Former finance executive Dan Boyle charged with conspiracy for his role in pushing through Enron's sham sale of power plants mounted on barges near Nigeria to Merrill Lynch & Co. to help the energy company appear to have met earnings targets.
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2004
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Jan. 14 — Andrew Fastow pleads guilty to two counts of conspiracy and agrees to serve 10 years in prison after prosecutors no longer need his cooperation.
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July 8 — Lay surrenders to FBI. Indictment unsealed, accusing him of participating in a conspiracy to manipulate Enron's quarterly financial results, making false and misleading public statements about the company's financial performance and omitting facts necessary to make financial statements accurate and fair. Lay pleads innocent.
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Oct. 19 — A federal judge grants Lay a trial separate from Skilling and Causey on charges of bank fraud and lying to banks about using loans to buy Enron stock on margin, but rules the trio will be tried together on other charges.
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2005
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May 31 — U.S. Supreme Court overturns former Andersen conviction, ruling unanimously that vague jury instructions allowed jurors to convict without finding criminal intent behind mass document destruction. The government said in November 2005 that prosecutors will not retry the firm, reduced to about 200 workers from 28,000 who mainly handle pending lawsuits.
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Aug. 2, 2005: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce agrees to pay $2.4-billion to settle Enron investors suit after the lead plaintiff accused the bank of participating in an "elaborate scheme to defraud investors." CIBC did not admit or deny any wrongdoing as part of the deal.
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2006
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Jan. 30 — Lay, Skilling trial begins.
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May 17 -- Jury begins deliberations.
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May 25 — Jurors reach a verdict in the sixth day of deliberations in the trial of Lay and Skilling.
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