2002 Year in Review -- Silver Lining Still Tarnished

Speaking of buying back businesses, the employees of Appleton Papers, Appleton, WI, plunked down $810 million to wrest ownership from parent company Arjo Wiggins Appleton.

Nezar "Mike" Maad, owner of the former Frontier Printing Services in Anchorage, AK, was sentenced to six months in federal prison after being found guilty of two counts of falsifying loan applications, one count of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements to the government. The Syrian-born Maad reported that his print shop had been vandalized—presses and related equipment were destroyed, with the words, "We hate Arabs" spray painted on the shop's wall. During the FBI investigation, it was learned Maad had falsified loan documents and lied to the government to obtain small business loans.