Ben Glisan, originally charged in 24 counts of a 109 count Indictment naming him and Enron ex-execs Andrew Fastow and Dan Boyle, was sentenced today to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud without a cooperation agreement (meaning he didn't rat out the others) - and got the maximum term for the count. He was taken into custody immediately.

The judge recommended a minimum-security facility for Glisan.

Legal experts who watch the Enron cases see the plea arrangement as a minor win for both sides: Prosecutors show momentum in the huge slow-moving case by finally putting an Enron official behind bars, while Glisan gets a sure, swift sentence, cutting the risk that he could receive a far greater sentence after a protracted and expensive trial.

....Robert Mintz , a New Jersey-based attorney and former federal prosecutor who has followed the case, said he thinks this plea arrangement will set the bar for the sentencing of others. "It lays out a five-year standard. It's not likely the government will offer something more lenient to someone who was more culpable and isn't cooperating," Mintz said.

Glisan was a top-level executive at Enron.