Free Republic

CHARLOTTE (AP) — Federal prosecutors have indicted a contractor on charges of conspiracy and tax fraud — and allege he illegally used millions of dollars of his company's money to further a romantic relationship with another builder. David Boone, 51, intends to plead not guilty to charges of conspiracy and tax fraud, said his lawyer, Peter Anderson. "He denies being involved in any conspiracy," Anderson told The Charlotte Observer. "Mr. Boone fully expects to be acquitted at trial and looks forward to his day in court." If convicted, the charges could bring a prison sentence of up to 38 years...

Virginia Reyes -- the sister of Victor Reyes, Mayor Daley's key political operative -- was on the verge of snagging a contract as a minority-owned business to supply toilets and other plumbing items at O'Hare International Airport. But she had two problems. She needed City Hall to quickly certify her firm, Toltec Construction, as a minority vendor of plumbing supplies. And she needed plumbing supplies.

July 1995 Maryland pension system decides to use more minority money managers. Fall 1996 Nathan A. Chapman Jr. buys Minority Equity Trust, a fund invested in by a collection of minority-owned firms. One MET client is state pension system. December 1996 Chapman, as new MET owner, signs contract with pension system to manage some of its money. January 1997 Chapman signs contract with Alan B. Bond making Bond a manager in MET. Gives Bond $10 million in pension money to invest. January 1998 Chapman gets additional $40 million in pension money; gives $5 million of that to Bond to invest....

How Ortiz influenced a Navy contract A Hispanic, woman-owned company got two years of help from Ortiz - other firms didn't get a chance BY TARA COPPScripps Howard News ServiceJune 9, 2002   Outsider's struggle:Mary Lupe Arana says minorities need federal work to break Corpus Christi's tight-knit construction network. Read her story>> WASHINGTON - The Navy buckled to pressure by U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz in March and awarded a $12 million contract to a Corpus Christi minority-owned company, despite internal Navy recommendations against the award, according to documents obtained by the Caller-Times. On its face, Ortiz was just doing...