http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003444.php
June 15, 2007
Mystery Cunningham Figure Pleads Guilty
By Paul Kiel
One of the hanging threads of the Duke Cunningham case has been the
fate of Thomas Kontogiannis, the Greek businessman implicated in
Cunningham's plea for bribing the congressman.
Today, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Kontogiannis actually
pled guilty back in February, but that the documents had been under
seal until now:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070615-9999-1n15tommy.html
A New York financier has admitted playing a key role in the scandal
that brought down former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, according to a
guilty plea unsealed this week.
Thomas Kontogiannis said he helped finance the purchase of
Cunningham's $2.5 million house in Rancho Santa Fe, in a deal that
evolved from two military contractors' alleged plans to bribe the
congressman....
Kontogiannis, in a guilty plea that was rendered under seal in
February but made public in San Diego federal court this week,
admitted providing $1.1 million in mortgages for the Rancho Santa Fe
house even though he believed the home purchase involved “the proceeds
of illegal activity.”
Beyond the home deal, Kontogiannis also said he financed the purchase
of Cunningham's condominium in Arlington, Va., and bought Cunningham's
yacht – even though he had no interest in owning the boat and knew
that he was overpaying.
Kontogiannis, who had sought Cunningham's help when fighting bribery
charges in New York, said he agreed to the transactions “because he
wanted to maintain his relationship with Cunningham, a powerful public
official who could assist him in many ways,” according the plea.
Kontogiannis' guilty plea was signed on February 9th (you can read it
here), just days before Carol Lam, the U.S. attorney who led the
Cunningham investigation, but who was fired along with seven other
U.S. attorneys last year, stepped down.
The deal carries a maximum sentence of ten years, but Kontogiannis'
plea likely means he'll get less.
There is nothing in the plea agreement to indicate that Kontogiannis
is actively cooperating with prosecutors to implicate others.
Kontogiannis is scheduled to be sentenced November 26th.
It's long been somewhat of a mystery what Kontogiannis was getting in
exchange for his bribes.
The prosecutors seem to be subscribing to the theory floated in a
Copley news piece last year, that Kontogiannis, a businessman, used
Cunningham to meet world leaders, who included President Bush and the
Saudi crown prince.
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The plot thickens
Harry
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