Joseph Cassano

Joseph Cassano, former head of AIG's financial products division. That was the unit responsible for the disastrous credit default swaps that triggered AIG's collapse -- which we're still paying for. Back in August 07, Cassano declared that it was difficult to imagine "a scenario within any kind of realm of reason that would see us losing $1." Cassano left AIG in Febuary 2008, but was initially given a $1 million a month retainer -- which has since been terminated.

(Mail/SOLO/ZUMA Press)

Ken Lewis

Kenneth D. Lewis, Bank of America's embattled CEO. Lewis was subpoenaed last month in NY Attorney General Cuomo's investigation into the billion dollar bonuses awarded to Merrill Lynch execs just before the company came under Bank of America's control. Lewis continues to refuse to disclose information on these bonuses.

(Reuters)

John Thain

John Thain, former CEO of Merrill Lynch. Thain served as Merrill's CEO while it posted massive losses late last year, but still approved billions in bonuses for Merrill staffers. Thain also spent 1.2 million of Merrill's money on a redecoration of his office suites. After being ousted, Thain reportedly walked Merrill's halls declaring: "I don't know how these people can run this company without me."

(nysocialdiary.com)

Angelo Mozilo

Angelo Mozilo (left), former CEO of Countrywide Financial. The SEC is investigating Mozilo and two other Countrywide executives for lying about credit risks-- a critical factor in the mortgage company's collapse.

(nysocialdiary.com)

Franklin D. Raines

Franklin D. Raines, former CEO of Fannie Mae. Under Raines' leadership, Fannie approved many of the disastrous home loans that ultimately led to it being taken over by the federal goverment last summer. "Friends of Angelo," the group of VIPs Mozilo granted favorable mortgages to included Raines, who used VIP loans for nearly a million apiece to twice refinance his seven-bedroom home, which has a pool and movie theater.

(wdcpix.com)

Richard Fuld

Richard Fuld, former CEO of Lehman Brothers. Under Fuld's leadership, Lehman went belly up last September, triggering the financial crisis we're still dealing with today. There is speculation that he sold his house to his wife, so as to keep it out of reach of potential lawsuits filed by shareholders. However, all is not lost for Fuld: he's considering "harnessing" his contacts in US companies to start "a small advisory boutique to help companies with strategic and financial issues."

(World Economic Forum)

James Cayne

James Cayne (right), former CEO of Bear Stearns. Cayne became President of Bear Stearns in 1985 and stayed at the investment company until it collapsed in 2008. During Bear's death throes last summer, Cayne played in a 10-day bridge tournament in Nashville, Tenn., without a cellphone or an email device.

(nysocialdiary.com)

Allen Stanford

Allen Stanford (left), CEO of the soon-to-be-defunct Stanford Financial Group. Government investigators accused Stanford of orchestrating a "fraud of shocking magnitude," to scam investors out of $8 billion. Stanford also provided 85% of the funding for an organization that sent U.S. lawmakers on luxury junkets to the Caribbean.

(Inter-American Economic Council)

Bernard Madoff

Bernard Madoff, the former chair of NASDAQ and CEO of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. Madoff pleaded guilty to orchestrating a ponzi scheme that defrauded Steven Spielberg, Elie Weisel's Foundation for Humanity, and Jewish retirees everywhere out of as much as $50 billion. "I always knew this day would come," he said while entering his guilty plea in court.

(Reuters)

More on the Axis of Weasels

For more on the Axis of Weasels, visit TPMmuckraker:

Complete coverage of Joseph Cassano and AIG

Complete coverage of Ken Lewis and Bank of America

Complete coverage of John Thain and Merrill Lynch

Complete coverage of Allen Stanford

Complete coverage of Bernard Madoff