Skilling entered prison in December 2006, following roughly six weeks of home confinement. Prosecutors won a forfeiture of more than $40 million of Skilling’s assets at trial, which have been held in reserve while the former executive continued to appeal his conviction, according to the filing. In dropping his bid for a new trial and any further appeals, Skilling agreed not to challenge the forfeiture, which will immediately free up the funds for Enron victims.

“Today’s agreement will put an end to the legal battles surrounding this case,” Peter Carr, a spokesman for the Justice Department’s criminal division, said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. “Mr. Skilling will no longer be permitted to challenge his conviction for one of the most notorious frauds in American history, and victims of his crime will finally receive the more than $40 million in restitution they are owed.”

Victim Opinions

In an order yesterday, Lake outlined procedures for victims to voice opinions in writing or in person at Skilling’s re- sentencing on June 21. Lake said some victims had written him before the deal was formally announced and he may limit the number who will speak to avoid prolonging the hearing.

Former Enron investors and employees have until June 7 to send the judge letters and request to speak at the hearing.

“This agreement ensures that Mr. Skilling will be appropriately punished for his crimes and that victims will finally receive the restitution they deserve,” Carr said.

There’s a good chance Lake will impose the minimum sentence under the deal in spite of victims’ objections, Jim DeVita, the white-collar attorney who defended former Tyco International Ltd. Chief Executive Officer L. Dennis Kozlowski. Kozlowski was sentenced in 2005 to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison for looting the company, and is presently seeking parole.

‘Probably Enough’

“In a case of this nature, even though it involved the significant and monumental collapse of a company, 14 years is probably enough,” DeVita, of Day Pitney LLP in New York, said in a phone interview. “For someone like Mr. Skilling, the likelihood of recidivism is nil -- 14 years is more than enough to deter someone from doing that again.”

When Skilling was sentenced in October 2006, Lake gave him the minimum term under nonbinding federal guidelines, which called for as long as 30 years in prison.      After a 16-week trial, a Houston jury convicted Skilling alongside Kenneth Lay, Enron’s former chairman, for conspiring to use off-books partnerships to manipulate the company’s finances and mislead investors about the company’s true financial condition. Lay died before he could appeal, and his conviction was erased.