Amid scrutiny of stock options at more than 100 public companies, the founder and former chairman of the company that publishes the popular “Grand Theft Auto” video games became the first CEO convicted of backdating stock options to boost their value, Manhattan’s top prosecutor said.
Ryan A. Brant, 35, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court to first-degree falsification of business records in a deal that lets him avoid prison with a sentence of five years probation. He will still pay a fine of $7.26 million.
