BREAKING NEWS: JENNINGS FOUND GUILTY
Rep. Jennings convicted
Former state Rep. Loren Jennings, accused of using his office to financially benefit a firm in which he had a financial stake, was convicted Tuesday of two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering by a federal court jury in St. Paul.
A federal court jury in St. Paul acquitted him of four other charges following a nine-day trial. No date has been set for his sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle.
Jennings, 54, of Harris, declined to comment as he left court after the verdicts Tuesday afternoon. But defense attorney Doug Kelley said Jennings will appeal his convictions.
A federal grand jury indictment accused Jennings of violating state law by failing to disclose a $670,00 interest he had in a power pole recycling company.
Prosecutors alleged that Jennings used his influence as a one-time chairman of the House Regulated Industries Committee to push for a law change in the late -1990s that benefited the beleaguered company, Northern Pole Inc.
It collected $650,000 in state-mandated conservation money from energy companies. About $284,000 of that money was used to pay off loans that Jennings and his business partners had given to Northern Pole, prosecutors alleged.
Kelley argued that what prosecutors construed as investments by Jennings in the firm were bridge loans made to help out a friend, banker John C. James, who took advantage of Jennings.
Jennings and Kelley also maintained that the 18-year legislator, who was defeated in a 2002 reelection bid, did not have an obligation to disclose the loans as a conflict of interest under state law. Source: Star Tribune, July 26, 2005
Former state Rep. Loren Jennings, accused of using his office to financially benefit a firm in which he had a financial stake, was convicted Tuesday of two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering by a federal court jury in St. Paul.
A federal court jury in St. Paul acquitted him of four other charges following a nine-day trial. No date has been set for his sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle.
Jennings, 54, of Harris, declined to comment as he left court after the verdicts Tuesday afternoon. But defense attorney Doug Kelley said Jennings will appeal his convictions.
A federal grand jury indictment accused Jennings of violating state law by failing to disclose a $670,00 interest he had in a power pole recycling company.
Prosecutors alleged that Jennings used his influence as a one-time chairman of the House Regulated Industries Committee to push for a law change in the late -1990s that benefited the beleaguered company, Northern Pole Inc.
It collected $650,000 in state-mandated conservation money from energy companies. About $284,000 of that money was used to pay off loans that Jennings and his business partners had given to Northern Pole, prosecutors alleged.
Kelley argued that what prosecutors construed as investments by Jennings in the firm were bridge loans made to help out a friend, banker John C. James, who took advantage of Jennings.
Jennings and Kelley also maintained that the 18-year legislator, who was defeated in a 2002 reelection bid, did not have an obligation to disclose the loans as a conflict of interest under state law. Source: Star Tribune, July 26, 2005
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home