The U.S. Department of Justice today filed federal fraud charges former publishing baron Conrad Black and three other former top executives of his publishing empire.

Black, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Hollinger International, Inc., is among three new defendants charged with cheating public shareholders in the U.S. and Canada and Canadian tax authorities in an expanded indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Chicago, announced Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Today’s 11-count indictment alleges two new fraud schemes in addition to a separate scheme first alleged in an indictment in August that the defendants fraudulently diverted more than $32 million from the U.S.-based Hollinger newspaper holding company through a complex series of self-dealing transactions.

None of the allegations have been proven.

Among the three new defendants, Black and Jack Boultbee were each charged with eight counts of mail fraud and wire fraud, and Peter Atkinson was charged with six counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. Of the two defendants indicted in August and again today, Mark Kipnis was charged with nine counts of mail fraud and wire fraud, and Ravelston Corp. Ltd. was charged with the same seven counts of mail fraud and wire fraud that were brought previously.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of at least $80 million from Black, Boultbee, Atkinson and Kipnis, more than $8.5 million in net proceeds that was seized last month from Black’s sale of the Park Avenue apartments, and Black’s Florida home.

Kipnis has pleaded not guilty to the earlier charges and is free on bond pending a new arraignment a later date in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Ravelston’s arraignment on the earlier charges is still pending.

Arrest warrants were issued for Black, Boultbee and Atkinson. U.S. officials said they will allow the three defendants to appear voluntarily in Federal Court in Chicago; otherwise they will seek extradition.

Another co-defendant, David Radler, who was indicted in August with Kipnis and Ravelston, pleaded guilty to a fraud count on Sept. 20 and is cooperating in the ongoing investigation.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2005/pr1117_01.pdf