From The Associated Press, 2/4/08:
http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_Congressman_Bribery_326433C.shtml
Mortgage banker pleads guilty in Cunningham bribery case
SAN DIEGO
A New York mortgage broker pleaded guilty Monday to charges stemming
from the corruption case against former San Diego U.S. Rep. Randy
"Duke" Cunningham.
John Michael of Long Island, New York, admitted to conspiracy to
commit money laundering and lying to a grand jury, said Assistant U.S.
Attorney Phil Halpern.
He entered his pleas in San Diego federal court.
Michael, who is free on bond while awaiting sentencing May 5, faces a
maximum of 10 years on each of the charges.
Cunningham pleaded guilty in November 2005 to taking $2.4 million in
bribes from defense contractors in exchange for millions of dollars in
government contracts.
The former Republican lawmaker is now in federal prison serving a
sentence of more than eight years.
Michael, 36, pleaded guilty to using his mortgage company, Coastal
Capital, to hide a half million dollars in bribes to Cunningham paid
by Brent Wilkes, a Poway businessman.
He also admitted to lying to the grand jury about how the financial
transaction was structured.
Wilkes was convicted last year of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud.
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The open-ended Republican bribery scandal
Harry
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