Posted on 07/01/2008 9:24:39 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
The criminal case that brought former California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley's political career to an abrupt halt more than three years ago is scheduled for trial today, as federal prosecutors attempt to prove mail fraud and witness tampering charges against his onetime fundraiser Julie Lee.
While the case dashed the lofty aspirations of Shelley - once considered a potential senator, mayor or governor - and took a long time to get to trial, the allegations against Lee are straightforward.
Prosecutors have charged her with four counts of mail fraud and three counts of witness tampering for fraudulently obtaining state grant funds and illegally funneling some of it to Shelley's 2002 election campaign - and then covering it up.
The mail fraud charges could get her up to 20 years in prison; the witness tampering charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Lee has pleaded not guilty.
State and county prosecutors filed separate grand theft, forgery and embezzlement charges against Lee stemming from the same alleged scheme. That case is pending the conclusion of the federal trial in U.S. District Court in Sacramento.
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A May 2005 federal indictment alleges that Lee illegally used the U.S. mail to send falsified documents to the state auditor and state controller defending her use of the grant funds after the agencies began investigating where the money went.
The indictment also states that she tried to persuade witnesses who were involved in the alleged laundering scheme to mislead federal investigators and not provide them with relevant information.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Justice for Shmelleygate!
‘Bout time!
Where is that Perata indictment?
Justice for Shmelleygate!
‘Bout time!
Where is that Perata indictment?
Yeah, what she said!
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