Judge sentences ex-Refco CEO to 16 years in prison

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Phillip Bennett, the former chief executive of Refco, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Thursday for a nearly decade-long fraud that ultimately pulled the commodities brokerage into bankruptcy.

Bennett, a 59-year-old British citizen, pleaded guilty in February to 20 counts of fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and lying to auditors.

U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald ordered Bennett to be kept under house arrest in his New Jersey home until he surrenders to a federal facility on September 4. After serving his sentence, Bennett is to be deported to his native United Kingdom.

"You tried to make Refco successful, but your success was in many ways a sham," Buchwald said.

Bennett, who remained composed in the hearing, had tears in his eyes as he apologized to his family and friends and asked for their forgiveness.

"During these 33 months (since Refco went bankrupt), I've come to realize that despite the best of intentions, I made an unacceptable error of judgment," he said.

(Reporting by Dan Wilchins; writing by Joe Giannone; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Leslie Gevirtz)

Terra/Reuters