DENVER—The lead prosecutor in the insider-trading conviction of former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio is leaving the U.S. attorney’s office to join a private law firm.
Cliff Stricklin, the first assistant U.S. attorney for Colorado, will step down this spring to join Holland & Hart LLP. He will focus on business disputes and securities legislation.
Stricklin, 43, said his departure is bittersweet.
“After years of working on large, complex cases, I just think the time is right for a new challenge,” he said.
Stricklin said he hasn’t ruled out running for public office in the future but said he has no immediate plans to do so.
He also plans to teach a course this fall at the University of Colorado law school.
Nacchio was convicted in April on 19 counts involving the sale of $52 million worth of Qwest Communications International Inc. stock. He was sentenced to six years in prison but remains free on appeal.
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid has called the Nacchio case the largest insider trading prosecution in the nation based on the number of counts, the amount of money involved and the length of the prison term.
———
Information from: The Durango Herald,
