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Goldman Sachs banker liable

August 2, 2013

A Goldman Sachs banker has been found liable for fraud in a failed investment scheme that faltered over failed subprime mortgage loans. The verdict could open the door to further claims by the bank's customers.

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Former Goldman Sachs trader Fabrice Tourre (L) returns to Federal Court after a lunch break July 15, 2013 in New York. Tourre, a 34-year old Frenchman known as 'Fabulous Fab,' is charged with fraud in connection with mortgage bonds that lost investors some $1 billion when the market for 'subprime' loans burst in 2008.The Securities and Exchange Commission accuses him of selling the bonds -- so-called synthetic collateralized debt obligations -- to investors even though he knew they were likely to fail. His former employer, Goldman, has already paid a record $550 million to settle similar charges. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
Image: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

A New York court on Thursday found former Goldman Sacs Inc. Vice President Fabrice Tourre liable on six of seven claims of fraud and other wrongdoing, in a major victory for financial regulators seeking to hold reckless bankers legally responsible for the 2007-2009 US mortgage crisis.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had accused 34-year-old Tourre of misleading investors into buying a flawed financial product called Abacas 2007-AC1, which was based on subprime mortgage loans. According to the SEC, Tourre failed to disclose to investors the full involvement of hedge fund billionaire John Paulson in the deal.

Paulson chose the subprime mortgages that underpinned the deal and then betted against them. He won $1 billion (756 million euros) while other investors, such as ACA and IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, lost by approximately the same amount. Goldman Sachs also profited from millions in fees.

'Building about to collapse'

Some of Tourre's emails became a focus of the testimony. In an email to his girlfriend in France at the time, he said that "the whole building is about to collapse anytime now."

"Only potential survivor, the fabulous Fab (Tourre)...standing in the middle of all these complex, highly leveraged, exotic trades he created without necessarily understanding all of the implications of these monstrosities!!!"

Ex-Goldman Sachs trader convicted

Originally from France, Tourre left Goldman in 2012 and is now studying at the University of Chicago for a doctorate in economics. Goldman settled with the SEC in 2010 by paying a $550 million fine, without admitting or denying wrongdoing.

Tourre now faces the possibility of monetary fines as well as a professional ban from the securities industry. US District Judge Katherine Forrest is expected to decide on that later.

"We are gratified by the jury's verdict," said Andrew Ceresney, co-director of the SEC's enforcement division. "We will continue to vigorously seek to hold accountable, and bring to trial when necessary, those who commit fraud on Wall Street."

slk/rc (AP, dpa, Reuters)