By The Associated Press

THE ALLEGATIONS: Federal and state regulators accused American International Group Inc. of using deceptive accounting practices to mislead investors and regulators.

THE MOTIVATION: According to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, ”This is a company that didn’t have to cheat. But once they began, they found it hard to stop.”

THE COST TO SETTLE: $1.64 billion, divided among the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Justice Department and New York State agencies.