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Born in Canada · Nationalities British, Canadian — Business / finance / media / corporate governance / criminal justice

Conrad Black

Business and billionaires Media and journalism

Documented profile covering 11 controversies, including “2013–2019: SEC civil judgment followed by full presidential pardon” and “June 2011: New 42-month sentence for fraud and obstruction”.

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Profile No. 2167 · Updated on 12 October 2026

11Documented controversies

8Sources

1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 5 documented stages

2013–2019: SEC civil judgment followed by full presidential pardon

Conviction

2013–15 May 2019

2013–2019: SEC civil judgment followed by full presidential pardon

Conviction

In 2013, Black accepted a final SEC judgment imposing approximately $4.09 million in disgorgement and interest and barring him from serving as an officer or director of a listed company. In May 2019, President Donald Trump granted him a full pardon for the federal offences remaining on his record.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Conrad M. BlackRegulatory authorityVery high reliability
[2]
U.S. Department of Justice — Office of the Pardon AttorneyPardons Granted by President Donald J. Trump (2017-2021)Official documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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24 June 2011

June 2011: New 42-month sentence for fraud and obstruction

Conviction

After the number of upheld counts was reduced, Black was resentenced to 42 months' imprisonment for the remaining fraud and obstruction of justice convictions.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
Capital Markets Tribunal (Ontario)In the Matter of Conrad M. Black et al. — Reasons and DecisionRegulatory authorityVery high reliability
[2]
The GuardianConrad Black sent back to prison in US after losing fraud appealPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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24 June 2010

June 2010: Supreme Court vacates appeal judgment and remits case over "honest services" theory

Conviction

The Supreme Court ruled that the defendants had properly preserved their objection to the honest services fraud instruction and vacated the appellate judgment for reconsideration following the narrowing of that doctrine.

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of the United StatesBlack v. United States — docket and judgmentCourt recordVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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2005–July 2007

2005–2007: Federal criminal trial, three mail fraud and obstruction convictions, acquittal on nine other counts

Conviction

After a lengthy trial in Chicago, the jury found Black guilty on three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice; he was acquitted on nine other counts.

Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Department of JusticeBlack v. United States - Brief (Merits)Court recordVery high reliability
[2]
Capital Markets Tribunal (Ontario)In the Matter of Conrad M. Black et al. — Reasons and DecisionRegulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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December 2007

December 2007: Initial prison sentence of 78 months

Conviction

Black was sentenced to 78 months' imprisonment following his 2007 convictions.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals / JustiaUSA v. Conrad Black, No. 07-4080Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
The GuardianConrad Black sent back to prison in US after losing fraud appealPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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29 October 2010

October 2010: Two fraud convictions quashed, one fraud conviction and obstruction upheld

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

On remand, the Seventh Circuit quashed the convictions concerning the APC payments but upheld the fraud conviction relating to Forum/Paxton and the obstruction of justice conviction.

State of the evidence: Documented
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals / JustiaUSA v. Conrad Black, No. 07-4080Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
Capital Markets Tribunal (Ontario)In the Matter of Conrad M. Black et al. — Reasons and DecisionRegulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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2004

2004: Delaware ruling orders repayment of approximately $29.8 million

Civil / administrative proceedings

The Delaware Court of Chancery found that Black had breached the restructuring agreement and ordered Black and Hollinger Inc. to pay approximately $29.8 million to Hollinger International.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Conrad M. BlackRegulatory authorityVery high reliability
[2]
Capital Markets Tribunal (Ontario)In the Matter of Conrad M. Black et al. — Reasons and DecisionRegulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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2004

November 2004: SEC civil action for fraud and securities violations

Civil / administrative proceedings

The SEC sued Black, Radler and Hollinger Inc., alleging a scheme to misappropriate sale proceeds, make false statements and omit material information from investor disclosures.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Files Fraud Charges Against Conrad Black, F. David Radler and Hollinger Inc.Regulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1998–2003

1998–2003: Management fees and related-party transactions criticised by Hollinger special committee

No legal proceedings

Hollinger's special committee criticised Black and his associates for management fees and related-party transactions considered excessive, insufficiently controlled or contrary to shareholders' interests.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Files Fraud Charges Against Conrad Black, F. David Radler and Hollinger Inc.Regulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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November 2003

November 2003: Resignation as CEO and restructuring agreement requiring repayment

Civil / administrative proceedings

After disputed payments were discovered, Black left Hollinger's executive leadership and accepted an agreement providing, notably, for repayments and restrictions on certain transactions.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Files Fraud Charges Against Conrad Black, F. David Radler and Hollinger Inc.Regulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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1999–2001

1999–2001: Unauthorised non-compete payments during newspaper sales

Civil / administrative proceedings

So-called non-compete payments were made to Black and other executives during Hollinger newspaper sales. Corporate documents and the SEC described several payments as unauthorised, inadequately disclosed or lacking proper economic justification.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Files Fraud Charges Against Conrad Black, F. David Radler and Hollinger Inc.Regulatory authorityVery high reliability
[2]
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionSEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Conrad M. BlackRegulatory authorityVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)

Donald Trump1 documented reference
- 2013–2019: SEC civil judgment followed by full presidential pardon Source ↗

III. Has something changed?

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