www.csua.org/u/jv5 -> www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7036772,00.html
UP Sheriff Charged With Accepting Bribes Tuesday October 30, 2007 10:01 PM By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press Writer SANTA ANA, Calif. Also named in the federal indictment were Carona's wife and a woman identified as his longtime mistress. The case involved more than $350,000 in illegal contributions, including cash and gifts. Carona, 52, was expected to surrender to federal authorities Wednesday in Santa Ana, said US attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek. Also expected to surrender were his wife, Deborah, and attorney Debra Victoria Hoffman, who was identified in court papers as his mistress. The sheriff's attorney, H Dean Steward, did not immediately return an e-mail requesting comment. The two former assistant sheriffs, Donald Haidl and George Jaramillo, previously pleaded guilty to related charges as part of a deal with prosecutors. Jaramillo, who is currently serving a 12-month term on state charges, cooperated with federal investigators to bring the case against Carona, his attorney said. The indictment unsealed Tuesday charges the sheriff, his wife and Hoffman with conspiracy to accept bribes in exchange for political favors. Sheriff Carona also is charged with witness tampering, and Hoffman faces one count of bankruptcy fraud. The scheme allegedly began in 1998, when Haidl solicited donations to Carona's election campaign and then reimbursed donors to hide the money trail, according to the indictment. After Carona was elected, Haidl, a wealthy businessman, paid for a Lake Tahoe vacation for Carona, Jaramillo, himself and their spouses, officials said. He also gave Carona a boat in 2001 and the personal use of his yacht and private plane, the indictment alleges. Haidl allegedly continued to pay Carona $1,000 a month in cash for full access to sheriff's department resources'' and a get out of jail free card'' for friends and family members, according to the indictment. Haidl also appointed Carona and Jaramillo to the board of directors of a company owned by Haidl's uncle. In return, Carona allegedly appointed Haidl to the position of assistant sheriff for reserves in 1999, and made Haidl's family, friends and business associates reserve deputies. When Haidl's teenage son, Gregory, was arrested in connection with a 2002 gang rape, Carona allegedly asked Jaramillo to lobby the county district attorney to charge the teen as a juvenile instead of as an adult. When Gregory Haidl was arrested on a drug charge a year later, he received preferential treatment'' from the sheriff's department with Carona's consent, the indictment said. Carona also appointed his wife to the Orange County Fair board of directors. He appointed Hoffman to the State Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention and the California Council on Criminal Justice, both of which he chaired.
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