Late last month, Oklahoma's attorney general charged WorldCom and six former executives with 15 felony violations of the state's securities laws.

In the talks, the Government was seeking $150 million in criminal penalties and guilty pleas to felony violations of environmental laws.

Both students were charged with multiple felony violations.

Both were found guilty of felony violation of conflict of interest law.

Stevens had been facing ethics and corruption charges and was convicted of felony violations a week before the election.

As a result of the operation, four companies and six individuals were indicted or arrested on felony violations of state environmental laws.

Top officials at Exxon could have been indicted under several Federal statutes that allow the Government to charge them with felony violations of pollution laws.

"There is a very real question of whether a felony violation occurred," he went on.

Also, such a felony violation does not require prior notice.

To date, no large pharmaceutical company has been excluded from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, even after pleading guilty to felony violations.