Ex-Charter Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Onetime Charter Communications Inc. executive James Smith III pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges, becoming the third former executive of the cable TV company to admit to a scheme to defraud investors by inflating subscriber numbers.

Smith, 56, was among four former executives indicted in July 2003. He was scheduled to face trial Feb. 7. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was scheduled to be sentenced April 1.