The US District Court for the District of Colorado began jury selection Monday in the trial of former Qwest Communications CEO Joseph Nacchio. Nacchio was indicted on 42 counts of insider trading in December 2005 for allegedly selling off more than $100 million in Qwest stock in conjunction with the Denver-based telephone service provider's accounting scandal. Nacchio faces up to ten years in prison and a $1 million fine for each of the 42 counts. The trial may last as long as eight weeks.

Nacchio and other executives also face a class action lawsuit and civil charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Another former Qwest employee, ex-Vice President Marc Weisberg, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December 2005 and agreed to help prosecutors build a case against Nacchio.