Ex-executives facing "decades" in prison after judge's ruling on fraud losses

Five former executives at reinsurance and risk assessment specialist General Re and insurance firm the American International Group (AIG) could face "decades" in prison after a judge ruled that their fraudulent actions cost AIG investors at least $544 million, it has been reported.

All five defendants were found guilty in February of conspiracy and fraud after they allegedly boosted AIG's profit loss reserves to mislead investors and artificially inflate the company's share price, Reuters said.

Prosecutors argued that their actions cost AIG's backers as much as $1.4 billion but US district judge Christopher Droney instead ruled that the damage was between $544 million and $597 million.

Losses incurred by victims of financial crime are a central factor in determining sentencing, Reuters added.

Douglas Berman, a law professor at Ohio State University, told the site that the judge's figures would lead to sentencing guidelines "of at least decades".

Among those awaiting sentencing are General Re's former chief executive Ronald Ferguson, the company's former financial officer and AIG's former vice-president of reinsurance, Christian Milton.