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Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force Update
The Department of Justice’s Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force issued a press release (here — through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas) outlining the focus of the investigatory and prosecutorial effort to address frauds related to disaster relief from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — and no doubt Hurricane Wilma will be…
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Former Law Firm Employee Sentenced to Statutory Maximum for Wire Fraud
A former employee of a Houston law firm, Roy Allen, received the maximum five-year sentence for mail fraud for a scheme to use the firm’s money to fund a purchase of a house that Allen hoped to flip in a quick sale so that he could repay the money without being noticed. The scheme took…
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The Effect of the SEC’s Investigation on Senator Frist’s Presidential Plans
An AP story (here) notes Senator Bill Frist’s acknowledgment that the SEC’s investigation of his sale of HCA Inc. stock from so-called blind trusts may affect his decision whether to run for President in 2008. While the SEC’s investigation will not be concluded swiftly, given the volume of stock sales by HCA executives and potential…
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Will This Be Patrick Fitzgerald’s Big Week?
Patrick Fitzgerald’s time with the grand jury is running out. His options include indicting, not indicting, or asking to continue his investigation. In the background is "The Miller Mess," discussed here. Right now Judith Miller must be wondering if she is receiving criticism because of her testimony concerning "Scooter" Libby. Or is it that she…
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Maybe This Could Be A Movie?
The US Attorney for the Central District of California has indicted an individual for an alleged investment scam of claiming to be producing a television series on Homeland Security. In a press release here "the owner of Steeple Entertainment, was named in a 23-count indictment that accuses him of mail fraud, wire fraud and money…
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Special Counsel Fitzgerald’s New Website
On Wednesday, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald’s office put up a website (here) through the Department of Justice that contains documents related to the case, the most recent being an Aug. 27 memorandum from the Deputy Attorney General about supervision of the Special Counsel. The site is still rather barren, with links to documents appointing Fitzgerald,…
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What Will Ken Lay Say?
Defense lawyers usually tell their clients who have been charged with a crime to lay low and not make any public comments. Former Enron CEO Ken Lay, who has a website to advance his position, will be speaking to the Houston Forum on December 13 about the downfall of Enron. The speech, a bit more…
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DeLay Seeks Recusal of Judge
Another day, another sideshow at the circus in Austin, Texas, surrounding the state prosecution of Rep. Tom DeLay on conspiracy and money laundering charges. At his scheduled arraignment before 331st Judicial Criminal District Court Judge Bob Perkins (website here), the court first took up a defense request for the appointment of a new judge because…
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It’s Not Worth Your Career
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the guilty plea of Thomas Perry for giving illegal gratuities to federal and contract workers to receive government contracts for transportation services. What is interesting about cases like this is how modest the gratuities usually are, as compared to the loss that will be felt…
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What Was Rick Mariano Doing Way Up There?
Philadelphia City Councilman Rick Mariano has been the target of a federal grand jury investigation into possible corruption, and an indictment is widely considered likely in the near future. Yesterday, Mariano was spotted at the base of the William Penn statute atop City Hall, and the immediate reaction was to call the police and fire…
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