Former Lincoln S&L; Chairman Sentenced to 3 Years’ Probation : Fraud: Ruling reflects his role in the Irvine thrift’s failure and his helping prosecutors win state, federal convictions of Charles H. Keating Jr.

A bookish computer expert swept up in Charles H. Keating Jr.’s empire to become chairman of Lincoln Savings & Loan was put on probation for three years Monday for his role in helping Keating swindle investors and loot the Irvine thrift.

Robin Scott Symes, 41, who also was one of a succession of Lincoln presidents, was given a light sentence in the nation’s costliest thrift failure because he helped win both state and federal court convictions of Keating.

“His cooperation was extensive and forthright, and he was candid and helpful,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. David A. Sklansky.

Symes had testified that Keating held such a tight grip on the S&L; that he dictated what employees could hang on office walls, even though he never held a position at the thrift. Keating was chairman of Lincoln’s parent company, American Continental Corp. in Phoenix.

Symes, of Malvern, Ohio, also testified that Keating told sophisticated investors that the company was in trouble, yet told the largely unsophisticated bondholders who bought securities at Lincoln branches that American Continental was a safe investment.

Symes, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of securities fraud, did not address the court or comment on his sentence outside. He shook hands with state and federal prosecutors, who wished him luck.

Lincoln’s collapse nearly five years ago is estimated to have cost taxpayers $3.4 billion. Investors lost more than $285 million, though they since have recovered about 50 cents on the dollar through settlements with a host of lawyers, accountants and other professionals who allegedly helped Keating deceive the public.

Keating, meantime, acted as his own lawyer to win a temporary transfer recently from an aging, crowded state prison in San Luis Obispo to a newer federal prison in Tucson, Ariz., near his family and friends.

Keating is serving a 10-year prison term for violating state securities laws and a federal term of 12 years, seven months for racketeering, fraud and conspiracy. State prosecutors, who won convictions first, vowed to keep Keating in state custody for the minimum five years he has to serve on the state sentence.

But U.S. District Judge Richard M. Bilby in Tucson ordered the transfer to help the 70-year-old Keating participate in civil lawsuits that continue in Arizona.

The action angered the state prosecutors. The lead prosecutor in state court, William Hodgman, called it “a complete sham” designed to make Keating’s life more comfortable. “I find that disgusting,” Hodgman said.

Co-prosecutor Paul Turley said, “I had hoped he would be engaged in making small rocks out of big rocks.”