Doubt Swirls Around Quattrone

Updated from 12:35 a.m. EST

Credit Suisse First Boston broke ranks with Frank Quattrone on Monday, after turning up emails that suggest he might have known the bank faced a federal investigation when he told employees to throw out documents in December 2000, according to a source.

The emails between Quattrone, arguably the most powerful investment banker of the Internet era, and the firm's then-general counsel indicate the two discussed what to do if clients asked about the probe, which focused on the bank's IPO allocation practices, a person familiar with CSFB's internal inquiry said.

CSFB said it had begun its own investigation of the powerful investment banker and would place him on administrative leave pending its completion. ...