Ex-Ashland Oil Chief Gets Probation

NEW YORK — The former chairman of Ashland Oil was sentenced today to two years’ probation and 600 hours of community service for his role in a scheme to sell confidential documents to the National Iranian Oil Co.

Orin E. Atkins also reached an agreement on restitution with his former employer in which he will forgo more than $2 million in consulting fees and pension benefits and repay $250,000.

“I have no excuses for my actions other than I think anger or some resentment obviously short-circuited my brain,” Atkins told U.S. District Judge Charles S. Haight.

Atkins, 66, of North Palm Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty in September, 1989, to conspiracy and wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with the government.

Atkins admitted that after he resigned as chairman in 1981 but remained as a paid consultant, he obtained confidential documents involving the firm’s decision not to pay National Iranian for $283 million in crude oil purchased in 1979.

Atkins and others involved in the scheme offered to sell the documents to the Iranian company for use in a possible lawsuit against Ashland over its non-payment.