Stolen with a Gun

Walter Pavlo Jr was a young MBA rising quickly through the finance ranks at the nation's second largest telecom company. With a beautiful wife, two kids and a promising career, he epitomised the American dream. Pavlo's life took a dark turn when he became a willing participant in the company's efforts to hide from investors and potential acquirers a mountain of bad debt run up by mobsters and other unsavoury customers. Encouraged by higher-ups, Pavlo became accomplished at accounting gimmickry. Then the jaded young executive consorted with a colourful scam artist and others to use some of the same ploys he'd devised for his employer to enrich himself at its expense. A ruse born of disillusionment and greed turned into a nightmare for Pavlo after he was caught and forced to choose - rat on his buddies or spend decades rotting in prison.His crimes ultimately cost Pavlo his freedom, family, reputation and self-respect. Only later did he recognise that his original sins were part and parcel of the corruption that led to an historic collapse for his company, his industry and of public confidence in corporate America. With humour and raw honesty, Pavlo and award-winning Forbes senior editor, Neil Weinberg use this compelling personal story to portray in intimate detail the pressures millions of white-collar workers face every day.