In a case that highlights both the excess of the dot-com era and the perils of both sending email as well as basing a criminal investigation solely on it, all the remaining charges against former CSFB investment banker Frank Quattrone were dismissed by a federal judge.  Here’s the NY Times story on it and MarketWatch’s commentary on this ‘quiet’ ending.

In an era defined by "smoking gun" emails, federal prosecutors thought they had nailed him with six little words – "time to clean up those files"

Not so much…

Or according to Frank himself – "The legal system has rendered its final verdict. … The opera is over."

Four years, who knows how much in legal bills, and untold levels of legal maneuvering bring this much hyped case to a quiet conclusion.  Mr. Quattrone is free to return to the securities industry and do his thing – namely print money for himself and whatever firm he calls home ($200MM personally from 8/98 to end of 2001…good for him).  I think it is fair to assume that he would rather of not sent these six words in an email.

I remember reading the original complaint filed against him and the snippets of emails that were used to build the case around obstruction.  Although highly suspect, the email contents alone did not make a clear and convincing case.  Email records provide lots of information however intent is not one of them.