Feds arrest third former Enron trader in California energy crisis

(San Francisco-AP) -- Federal authorities today arrested a third former Enron executive for allegedly manipulating California's energy market.<br><br>The U-S attorney's office in San Francisco

Tuesday, June 3rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(San Francisco-AP) -- Federal authorities today arrested a third former Enron executive for allegedly manipulating California's energy market.

The U-S attorney's office in San Francisco alleges John Forney was the architect behind several illegal schemes to drive up energy prices between 1999 and 2001.

Houston-based Enron in late 2001 filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy protection.

Forney was arrested at the headquarters of American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio.

Forney is the third energy trader who worked at Enron's power trading office in Portland, Oregon, to be charged with crimes related to California's energy crisis.

Forney attorney Brian Murphy says the charges are without merit. He says Forney has already been released and will face a hearing Monday.