Fox watching the henhouse? Smith & Wesson chief quits over past crimes.

[Harvey]

From CNNmoney

He says he's turned his life around, and I hope he has, but it's still a strange story. Think of it what you will.

Smith & Wesson chief quits over crime

Chairman of the nation's No. 2 gun maker resigns over past armed robbery, a newspaper report says.

February 27, 2004: 2:35 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - James Joseph Minder, chairman of handgun maker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., resigned after a published report revealed he'd spent as much as 15 years in prison decades ago for armed robberies and a bank heist.

The Republican], a daily newspaper in Springfield, Mass., reported Thursday that Minder confirmed his resignation without realizing that the company had not made an official announcement.

Smith & Wesson, the nation's second-largest gun manufacturer after Sturm, Ruger, told CNN/Money that it plans to release a statement later Friday but did not wish to comment on the newspaper report or confirm Minder's resignation at this time.

Minder's convictions were unknown to Smith & Wesson until the Arizona Republic newspaper chronicled Minder's criminal past earlier this month. Smith & Wesson is based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Republic article reported that Minder maintains he had never tried to cover up his past, and that the reason he failed to disclose his criminal past to Smith & Wesson earlier was because nobody had asked the question.

Minder, 74, had spent time in prison in the 1950s and 1960s for a string of armed robberies and an attempted prison escape, according to the Republic. During that time, the Detroit News said he was known for carrying a 16-gauge, sawed-off shotgun.

Minder was sentenced to 3-1/2 to 10 years in state prison for robbing a store while attending University of Michigan as a journalism student, he told the Republic.

Minder also told the paper that he turned his life around after finishing his prison sentence in 1969. He said he has spent his professional career trying to help kids after receiving a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, a bachelor of arts in sociology and a master of arts in social work, all earned from the University of Michigan.

Minder, who served on Smith & Wesson's board since 2001, had run a successful non-profit agency serving delinquent and disabled Michigan youths for 20 years before retiring to Scottsdale in 1997, the Republic said.

Shortly before the Republic article was published, Smith & Wesson had named Minder as
chairman, taking over the position from Roy Cuny, who remains on the board and continues to work as CEO and president of the company.

Cuny had been named to the top three posts in December, after Mitchell Saltz resigned as chairman and CEO. Also in December, Colt Melby stepped down as president amid a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into the late filing of earnings statements.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Looks like he had successfully reconstructed his life after doing his time.
If there was no question as to if he did prison time, there was no need to
disclose anything that would be a voluntary revelment that could jepordize
his potential to accept employment. No harm - no foul.

I mean, he's not as dispicable as a lawyer or career polititian.

 

[BugsBunny1078]

Way to go from prison to chairing a large company! GOod job. I don't know why he was forced to resign. This is what america is all about.