INVESTIGATIONS: We Never Did Trust the Guy

The investment firm Drexel Burnham Lambert has been pictured in an SEC indictment as Ivan Boesky's partner in securities fraud. But the company may have been one of the convicted arbitrager's victims as well. The London Stock Exchange is looking into accusations that Boesky used his network of partnerships to hide from Drexel the size, and thus the potential risk, of stock purchases he made with money he borrowed from the firm. Far from feeling duped, Drexel officials welcomed the probe. Since Boesky is the prime witness against the firm, his alleged backstabbing may erode his credibility. Drexel officials insist they never knew about Boesky's illicit schemes.