Roger Blackwell, professor of marketing in the Fisher College of Business, might have his name removed from the Blackwell Inn on Ohio State’s campus as a result of a recent conviction on charges of insider trading.

After the jury’s verdict, Blackwell notified the college of his retirement, effective immediately.

“As a retiree, he will not be subject to disciplinary action (from the university),” said Laura Bowers, spokeswoman for the Fisher College of Business.

Bowers said the long-standing reputation of the Fisher College of Business is not in danger.

“Fisher College’s reputation as a leading business school is well-established and is more than the actions of one professor,” she said.

According to a press release from United States Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart, Blackwell was convicted of “one count of conspiracy to commit insider trading, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, 14 counts of insider trading (securities fraud), two counts of making false statements, and one count of obstruction of an agency proceeding.”

According to a statement issued by OSU, “While he has had a distinguished career at the university, Professor Blackwell’s conviction on a series of charges related to insider trading is contrary to the high standards of conduct we expect from our faculty.”

Blackwell, along with Blackwell Associates employee Kelley L. Hughes and her husband, Kevin L. Stacy, were also convicted of making false statements during a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation.

Blackwell is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $1 million fine and up to five years of supervised release.

During his time on the Worthington Foods Board of Directors, the former OSU professor used information to gain profits through illegal trading prior to the announcement of the company’s purchase of the Kellogg Company in October 1999.

Although Blackwell’s case is noteworthy to the university community, particularly the Fisher College of Business the effects of insider trading reach far beyond Ohio State.

“When someone misuses their position of trust and allows others to benefit illegally from insider information, they undermine the economic market system,” Lockhart said in the release.

Blackwell remains free until sentencing, but he was ordered by Chief U.S. District Court Judge James L. Graham to post a $1 million case surety bond. Hughes and Stacy remain free on personal recognizance bond pending sentencing according to the Lockhart release.

Graham has yet to set a date for sentencing.