The former chairman and founder of Adelphia Communications, who resigned under pressure after he was charged, along with his two sons who also were company employees, with stealing $1 billion from the company. Rigas pled not guilty to federal charges of bank and wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy. However, James R. Brown, the former vice president of finance for the company, pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges, thereby implicating the three Rigases.