Former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio told his financial adviser "constantly" in 2000 and 2001 that he believed in the future of the company and expected Qwest's stock price to rise, the adviser testified at Nacchio's insider trading trial Thursday.

David Weinstein, who gave Nacchio financial advice for nearly 20 years, told jurors he encouraged Nacchio to diversify by selling more options but that Nacchio wanted to wait until the stock price went higher.

"You know Joe Nacchio well," defense attorney Herbert Stern said. "Do you believe he was telling you the truth?"

"Yes," Weinstein said.

The testimony contradicts prosecutors' allegations that Nacchio unloaded nearly $101 million in Qwest stock in early 2001 because he had inside information that the stock price was about to slip. Nacchio, who is charged with 42 counts of insider trading, has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors called Weinstein to the stand Thursday hoping he also would testify that Nacchio tried to "hide" $90 million in assets in 2002 by putting them in his wife's name. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Traskos argued in a court filing that moving the assets showed Nacchio knew he had done something wrong.

But U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham ruled Thursday morning that Weinstein couldn't talk about moving the assets, saying it would unnecessarily prejudice the jury against Nacchio, who may have made the transfers for any number of reasons.

Nottingham also noted the assets were moved nine or 10 months after the time frame covered in the government's indictment, and he said he doesn't want jurors to hold Nacchio's wealth against him.

"There is a danger that the jury will . . . draw the inference or find the defendant guilty solely because he is a wealthy man who in February 2002 decided to transfer assets," he said.

Under questioning by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Cliff Stricklin, Weinstein detailed conversations he had with Nacchio about entering into a stock sales plan and said Nacchio told him on Dec. 9, 2000, that he was signing papers for the deal.

Stricklin, who also referenced a "dishonest act" by Nacchio, didn't get into the issue further, but prosecutors are expected to do so as they continue their case next week. During opening statements, fellow prosecutor James Hearty told jurors that the document, which stated Nacchio had no "insider" information, was later backdated to Nov. 3, 2000 - prior to a series of warnings from Qwest executives that the company was in trouble.

Weinstein also testified that in December 2000 Nacchio had assets of $547 million, including $200 million in Qwest stock options, and about $51 million in cash.

Earlier Thursday, James A. Smith - the former executive vice president of Qwest's consumer and small-business unit - testified that the 2001 revenue targets set for his unit were "an impossibility." When he told Nacchio so, the CEO didn't want to hear it, Smith said.

"The routine response was that the targets were the targets," Smith added.

He was the latest in a string of prosecution witnesses to testify that Nacchio set earnings targets too high and that they were warning him the numbers couldn't be met months before Nacchio alerted Wall Street.

The day ended with former Qwest President and Chief Operating Officer Afshin Mohebbi taking the stand. Prosecutors say Mohebbi, who is expected to continue testifying Monday morning, also issued warnings to Nacchio, including an e-mail message in which he called the revenue targets a "huge stretch."

THE DAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

• Financial adviser David Weinstein said Joe Nacchio told him "constantly" in 2000 and 2001 that he believed in the future of the company and was bullish about Qwest's prospects at least through Aug. 13, 2001.

• Weinstein answered "yes" when lead prosecutor Cliff Stricklin queried if Joe Nacchio had asked him to assist in an "act of dishonesty." But there was no follow-up, and the question followed a private discussion among Judge Edward Nottingham and the attorneys.

• Weinstein detailed conversations he had with Nacchio about Nacchio selling "growth stock" and said Nacchio told him on Dec. 9, 2000, that he was signing papers for the deal. Prosecutors allege the document was created Dec. 13, 2000 - after Nacchio was warned about business problems - and was backdated to Nov. 3, 2000.

• Nottingham wouldn't allow Weinstein to testify that Nacchio transferred $90 million in assets to his wife's name in February 2002. Nottingham noted the transfer of assets could have been done for any number of reasons, including estate planning.

• Former Chief Operating Officer Afshin Mohebbi said investors had concerns with the Qwest-U S West merger because U S West was slower-growing. Mohebbi will continue his testimony Monday.

• James Smith, former head of Dex Yellow Pages small business and consumer markets, testified he warned Nacchio that 2001 targets were unattainable. Nacchio's response: "The targets were the targets," Smith said.

WHAT'S NEXT

• Court will not be in session today. The trial resumes Monday with the testimony of former Qwest Chief Operating Officer Afshin Mohebbi.

burnetts@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5343

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