Angola supplier alleges extortion

2theadvocate.com ^ | 06/11/06 | James Minton

[Ellesu]

Rodeo contractor says Warden Cain demanded donation:

A rodeo contractor claims Louisiana State Penitentiary Warden Burl Cain pressured him to donate to a prison chapel fund and sell advertising to keep a contract for supplying livestock for Angola Prison Rodeo performances.

Dan Klein Jr. of St. Francisville said he gave a $1,000 payment to Cain in the spring of 2004 after reporting what he considered a shakedown attempt “to the right authorities to let them know what was going on.”

Klein said a law enforcement agency supplied him with the money, but he declined to elaborate.

Klein said Cain now appears to be trying to undercut his bid for supplying livestock for the October and April 2007 rodeos by lowering the bid specifications.

But Cain claims Klein “cheerfully” gave the $1,000 donation to the chapel fund after he had been awarded a one-year contract, with two one-year extension options, in 2003.

“He already had the rodeo contract. How in the world could it be a shakedown?” Cain said.

Cain said he thinks Klein’s real problem is that “we changed the bid on the (new) rodeo contract to open it up to other bidders.”

“He’s mad, and he’s doing everything he can,” Cain said. “It’s all about the rodeo contract, and it’s time to bid.”

Cain, who recently completed his 11th year as head of the state’s largest prison, said he’s raised about $1.5 million for the Louisiana Prisons Chapel Foundation by asking many people for donations.

He also said he is not aware of any agency investigating his operations.

“If they are, I hope they look at the chapels,” Cain said. “Anybody that wants to come investigate ol’ Burl for asking somebody to give to the chapel foundation, I’d appreciate it.”

[FreePaul]

It's Louisiana. What can you expect?