Henry Samueli, right, and his wife, Susan, are back running the Ducks for the first time since June 2008. (Nick Ut/Associated Press)

Henry Samueli, who had been under indefinite suspension as owner of the Anaheim Ducks for more than a year, has been reinstated by the NHL.

Samueli, 55, was suspended in June 2008 after pleading guilty to lying to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with a criminal investigation into illegal stock-option backdating at Broadcom Corp., the computer chip business he co-founded with Henry Nicholas in 1991.

Samueli worked out a plea bargain with the U.S. government under which he would pay $12 million to the U.S. Treasury but wouldn't have to serve any jail time or be required to testify against Nicholas or William Ruehle, Broadcom's former chief financial officer. The deal, however, was rejected by U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney in Los Angeles, who said it gave the impression that "justice is for sale."

Last week, Samueli's lawyers filed their latest appeal for the plea deal to be reconsidered. In September, a panel of judges decided it didn't have the jurisdiction to rule on an appeal.

The NHL also announced Thursday that Samueli's wife may return to active status as co-owner of the Ducks. Susan Samueli had relinquished the position to "avoid any improper appearance."

"We welcome Henry and Susan Samueli back as fully reinstated owners and members of the NHL community," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

The Buffalo-born Samueli and his wife have donated millions to UCLA, his alma mater, as well as other philanthropical causes in Southern California.

Alternate governor Michael Schulman had been overseeing the Ducks and acting as team governor during Samueli's suspension.