A Who's Who of Thrift Defendants With Cases on the Docket for 1995

The S&L crisis may be long gone, but the government still is pursuing bankers - both in the courtroom and in ongoing investigations.

Here's a glance at some individuals who face upcoming trials:

* Robert S. Stoller, the former president and chief executive of Coolidge Corner Cooperative Bank in Brookline, Mass., was indicted last week on multiple charges of misapplying bank funds, accepting illegal gratuities, and other crimes.

The indictment charges that from 1986 to 1989 Mr. Stoller approved about $6.5 million in loans from the bank to real estate trusts in which he and his son had interests, unbeknownst to officials.

Mr. Stoller is also being accused of receiving $170,000 in unlawful payments during that time from an attorney hired by the bank, which was closed in 1991.

Mr. Stoller faces a maximum penalty of 240 years in prison and a $12 million fine.

*Jeffrey S. Robinson and Douglas M. Hickock, former officials of Caprock Savings and Loan Association, are being accused of fraud and using illegal land flips to raise capital for the Dallas thrift, according to an indictment.

The two men, who arrived at Caprock in 1987 as turnaround experts, received $1.4 million in payments for their services, the charges stated.

The Department of Justice's Dallas Bank Fraud Task Force expects to bring Mr. Robinson and Mr. Hickock to trial in the coming months along with two other Caprock officials.

*Gerald G. Barton, former chairman of Oak Tree Savings Bank, is being charged with violating fiduciary duties and other offenses along with two others involved with the New Orleans thrift.

The Office of Thrift Supervision has been pursuing its case against Mr. Barton for three years, seeking more than $35 million in restitution and an order barring him from banking.

The proceedings have been delayed, and OTS is uncertain when they will resume.

While the nationwide number of such cases has declined from its peak in 1992, the Justice Department's New England Bank Fraud Task Force is still plenty busy.

"Our plate is full," said Deborah M. Smith, director of the task force. "We are continuing to aggressively pursue these cases."

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