Gregory L. Reyes, former CEO Brocade Communications Systems, has achieved the dubious distinction of becoming the first executive to be convicted on criminal charges relating to improper stock option backdating disclosures. Sentencing for Reyes is obviously still to come (Npvember 21, if you are keeping score) but he could face as much as 20 years in prison. While some expressed surprise at the guilty verdict, it can't be a good omen for the 200+ other companies facing similar scrutiny and potential prosecution.

-- MDT

Labels: backdating, Brocade, convicted, Gregory Reyes, stock options