MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Four former executives of Minnesota-based Starkey Hearing Technologies have pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to embezzle more than $20 million from the hearing aid maker and its principal owner.
After Friday’s federal court hearing in Minneapolis, the Star Tribune reports (https://strib.mn/2dh3y1j ), attorneys for two of the men accused majority owner Bill Austin of lying to authorities about the disputed transactions.
The company then issued a statement rejecting the idea that Austin was aware of the alleged conspiracy or the alleged cover-up, calling the notion absurd.
Former Starkey President Jerry Ruzicka and three other defendants who pleaded not guilty Friday were released without having to post bail. A fifth defendant has yet to be arraigned.
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