The allure of stinking campaign cash

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is raking in so much dough that it's hard for her staff to keep tabs on all the donors. Consequently, some embarrassing checks have been cashed.

A bunch of them came courtesy of Norman Hsu, the natty schmoozer of high-level Democrats who was recently busted on fraud charges. Hsu raised about $800,000 for Mrs. Clinton, who has said she'll give back that money to the individual donors.

Now comes the revelation that Mrs. Clinton and several other Democrats, including presidential candidates John Edwards and Joe Biden, accepted contributions from trial lawyers implicated in a sleazy kickback scheme.

The facts, as reported in The New York Times, make it difficult to believe that taking money from these characters was an innocent oversight. The scandal was already in full bloom, and well publicized, when the candidates banked the donations.

At the center of the case is the New York law firm of Milberg Weiss, which made billions in legal fees by initiating class-action suits against large, publicly traded corporations.

The firm's approach was aggressive and effective. When a company's stock dropped significantly, Milberg Weiss would quickly sue, having recruited a shareholder as a plaintiff.

Typically, the lawsuit accused executives of misleading or defrauding investors. More often than not, the company would settle the case for big bucks in order to avoid a trial.

It would be interesting to see how much she has collected from these less-than sterling chartacters;

CLINTON PARDONS

U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pardonchartlst.htm

CLINTON PARDONS

Pardons Granted January 2001

Name Home Town Offenses

-- ALLEN, Verla Jean Everton, Arkansas False statements to agency of United States
-- ALTIERE, Nicholas M. Las Vegas, Nevada Importation of cocaine
-- ALTSCHUL, Bernice Ruth Sherman Village, California Conspiracy to commit money laundering
-- ANDERSON, Joe, Jr. Grove Hill, Alabama Income tax evasion
-- ANDERSON, William Sterling Spartanburg, South Carolina Conspiracy to defraud a federally insured financial institution, false statements to a federally insured financial institution, wire fraud
-- AZIZKHANI, Mansour T. Huntsville, Alabama Conspiracy and making false statements in bank loan applications
-- BABIN, Cleveland Victor, Jr. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Conspiracy to commit offense against the United States by utilizing the U.S. mail in furtherance of a scheme to defraud
-- BAGLEY, Chris Harmon Harrah, Oklahoma Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
-- BANE, Scott Lynn Mahomet, Illinois Unlawful distribution of marijuana
-- BARBER, Thomas Cleveland Hampton, Florida Issuing worthless checks
-- BARGON, Peggy Ann Monticello, Illinois Violation of the Lacey Act, violation of the Bald Eagle Protection Act
-- BHATKA, Tansukhlal Income tax evasion BLAMPIED, David Roscoe Ketchum, Idaho Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
-- BORDERS, William Arthur, Jr. Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to corruptly solicit and accept money in return for influencing the official acts of a federal district court judge (Alcee L. Hastings), and to defraud the United States in connection with the performance of lawful government functions; corruptly influencing, obstructing, impeding and endeavoring to influence, obstruct and impede the due administration of justice, and aiding and abetting therein; traveling interstate with intent to commit bribery
-- BOREL, Arthur David Little Rock, Arkansas Odometer rollback
-- BOREL, Douglas Charles Conway, Arkansas Odometer rollback
-- BRABHAM, George Thomas Austin, Texas Making a false statement or report to a federally insured bank
-- BRASWELL, Almon Glenn Doravilla, Georgia Conspiracy to defraud government with respect to claims; perjury
-- BROWDER, Leonard Aiken, South Carolina Illegal dispensing of controlled substance and Medicaid fraud
-- BROWN, David Steven New York, New York Securities fraud and mail fraud
-- BURLESON, Delores Caroylene, aka Delores Cox Burleson Hanna, Oklahoma Possession of marijuana
-- BUSTAMANTE, John H. Cleveland, Ohio Wire fraud
-- CAMPBELL, Mary Louise Ruleville, Mississippi Aiding and abetting the unauthorized use and transfer of food stamps
== CANDELARIA, Eloida False information in registering to vote
- CAPILI, Dennis Sobrevinas Glendale, California
Filing false statements in alien registration
-- CHAMBERS, Donna Denise Memphis, Tennessee Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a telephone to facilitate -- cocaine conspiracy
-- CHAPMAN, Douglas Eugene Scott, Arkansas Bank fraud
-- CHAPMAN, Ronald Keith Scott, Arkansas Bank fraud
-- CHAVEZ, Francisco Larios Santa Ana, California Aiding and abetting illegal entry of aliens
-- CISNEROS, Henry G.
-- CLINTON, Roger -- COHN, Stuart Harris New Haven, Connecticut 1. Illegal sale of gold options
2. Illegal sale of sil
ver options
-- COOPER, David Marc Wapakoneta, Ohio Conspiracy to defraud the government
-- COX, Ernest Harley, Jr. Pine Bluff, Arkansas Conspiracy to defraud a federally insured savings and loan, misapplication of bank funds, false statements
-- CROSS, John F., Jr. Little Rock, Arkansas Embezzlement by a bank employee
-- CUNNINGHAM, Rickey Lee Amarillo, Texas Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
-- DE LABIO, Richard Anthony Baltimore, Maryland Mail fraud, aiding and abetting
-- DEUTCH, John Described in January 19, 2001 information
-- DOUGLAS, Richard False statements
-- DOWNE, Edward Reynolds Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion; securities fraud
-- DUDLEY, Marvin Dean Omaha, Nebraska False statements
-- DUNCAN, Larry Lee Branson, Missouri Altering an automobile odometer
-- FAIN, Robert Clinton Aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false corporate tax return
-- FERNANDEZ, Marcos Arcenio Miami, Florida Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana
-- FERROUILLET, Alvarez Interstate transport of stolen property, money laundering, false statements
-- FUGAZY, William Denis Harrison, New York Perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding
-- GEORGE, Lloyd Reid Mail fraud
GOLDSTEIN, Louis Las Vegas, Nevada Possession of goods stolen from interstate shipment
-- GORDON, Rubye Lee Tampa, Florida Forgery of U.S. Treasury checks
-- GREEN, Pincus Switzerland
-- HAMNER, Robert Ivey Searcy, Arkansas Conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
-- HANDLEY, Samuel Price Hodgenville, Kentucky Conspiracy to steal government property
-- HANDLEY, Woodie Randolph Hodgenville, Kentucky Conspiracy to steal government property
-- HARMON, Jay Houston Jonesboro, Arkansas
1. Conspiracy to import marijuana, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, importation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
2. Conspiracy to import cocaine
-- HEMMINGSON, John Interstate transport of stolen property, money laundering
-- HERDLINGER, David S. St. Simons Island, Georgia Mail fraud
-- HUCKLEBERRY, Debi Rae Ogden, Utah Distribution of methamphetamine
-- JAMES, Donald Ray Fairfield Bay, Arkansas Mail fraud, wire fraud, and false statement to a bank to influence credit approval
-- JOBE, Stanley Pruet El Paso, Texas Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud
-- JOHNSON, Ruben H. Austin, Texas Theft and misapplication of bank funds by a bank officer or director
-- JONES, Linda Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and other offenses against the United States
-- LAKE, James Howard Illegal corporate campaign contributions, wire fraud
-- LEWIS, June Louise Lowellville, Ohio Embezzlement by a bank employee
-- LEWIS, Salim Bonnor Short Hills, New Jersey Securities fraud, record keeping violations, margin violations
-- LODWICK, John Leighton Excelsior Springs, Missouri Income tax evasion
-- LOPEZ, Hildebrando San Isidro, Texas Distribution of cocaine
-- LUACES, Jose Julio Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Possession of an unregistered firearm
-- MANESS, James Timothy Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
-- MANNING, James Lowell Little Rock, Arkansas Aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false corporate tax return
-- MARTIN, John Robert Gulf Breeze, Florida Income tax evasion
-- MARTINEZ, Frank Ayala Elgin, Texas Conspiracy to supply false documents to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
-- MARTINEZ, Silvia Leticia Beltran Elgin, Texas Conspiracy to supply false documents to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
-- McCORMICK, John Francis Dedham, Massachusetts Racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, and violation of the Hobbs act
-- McDOUGAL, Susan H.
-- MECHANIC, Howard Lawrence
1. Violating the Civil Disobedience Act of 1968 2. Failure to appear
3. Making false statement in acquiring a passport
-- MITCHELL, Brook K., Sr. Conspiracy to illegally obtain USDA subsidy payments, false statements to USDA, and false entries on USDA forms
-- MORGAN, Charles Wilfred, III Little Rock, Arkansas Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
-- MORISON, Samuel Loring Crofton, Maryland Willful transmission of defense information, unauthorized possession and retention of defense information, theft of government property
-- NAZZARO, Richard Anthony Winchester, Massachusetts Perjury and conspiracy to commit mail fraud
-- NOSENKO, Charlene Ann Phoenix, Arizona Conspiracy to defraud the United States, and influencing or injuring an officer or juror generally
-- OBERMEIER, Vernon Raymond Belleville, Illinois Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and using a communications facility to facilitate distribution of cocaine
-- OGALDE, Miguelina Glendale, California Conspiracy to import cocaine
--OWEN, David C. Olathe, Kansas Filing a false tax return -- PALMER, Robert W. Little Rock, Arkansas Conspiracy to make false statements
-- PERHOSKY, Kelli Anne Bridgeville, Pennsylvania Conspiracy to commit mail fraud
-- PEZZOPANE, Richard H. Palo Heights, Illinois Conspiracy to commit racketeering, and mail fraud
-- PHILLIPS, Orville Rex Waco, Texas Unlawful structure of a financial transaction
-- POLING, Vinson Stewart, Jr. Baldwin, Maryland Making a false bank entry, and aiding and abetting
-- PROUSE, Norman Lyle Conyers, Georgia Operating or directing the operation of a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol
-- PRUITT, Willie H. H., Jr. Port Richey, Florida Absent without official leave
--PURSLEY, Danny Martin, Sr. Goodlettsville, Tennessee Aiding and abetting the conduct of an illegal gambling business, and obstruction of state laws to facilitate illegal gambling
-- RAVENEL, Charles D. Charleston, South Carolina Conspiracy to defraud the United States
-- RAY, William Clyde Altus, Oklahoma Fraud using a telephone
REGALADO, Alfredo Luna Pharr, Texas Failure to report the transportation of currency in excess of $10,000 into the United States
-- RICAFORT, Ildefonso Reynes Houston, Texas Submission of false claims to Veterans Administration
-- RICH, Marc Switzerland
-- RIDDLE, Howard Winfield Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado Violation of the Lacey Act (receipt of illegally imported animal skins)
-- RILEY, Richard Wilson, Jr. Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
-- ROBBINS, Samuel Lee Cedar Park, Texas Misprision of a felony
-- RODRIGUEZ, Joel Gonzales Houston, Texas Theft of mail by a postal employee
--- ROGERS, Michael James McAllen, Texas Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana
-- ROSS, Anna Louise Lubbock, Texas Distribution of cocaine
-- RUST, Gerald Glen Avery, Texas False declarations before grand jury
-- RUST, Jerri Ann Avery, Texas False declarations before grand jury -- RUTHERFORD, Bettye June Albuquerque, New Mexico Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
-- SANDS, Gregory Lee Sioux Falls, South Dakota Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
-- SCHWIMMER, Adolph Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to export arms and ammunition to a foreign country and related charges
-- SERETTI, Albert A., Jr. McKees Rocks, Pennyslvania Conspiracy and wire fraud
-- SHAW, Patricia Campbell Hearst Wilton, Connecticut Armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a felony
-- SMITH, Dennis Joseph Redby, Minnesota 1. Unauthorized absence
2. Failure to obey off-limits instructions
3. Unauthorized absence
-- SMITH, Gerald Owen Florence, Mississippi Armed bank robbery
-- SMITH, Stephen A.
-- SPEAKE, Jimmie Lee Breckenridge, Texas Conspiracy to possess and utter counterfeit $20 Federal Reserve notes
-- STEWART, Charles Bernard Sparta, Georgia Illegally destroying U.S. Mail
-- STEWART-ROLLINS, Marlena Francisca Euclid, Ohio Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
-- SYMINGTON, John Fife, III
-- TANNEHILL, Richard Lee Reno, Nevada Conspiracy and restraint of trade
-- TENAGLIA, Nicholas C. Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania Receipt of illegal payments under the Medicare program
-- THOMAS, Gary Allen Lancaster, Texas Theft of mail by postal employee
-- TODD, Larry Weldon Gardendale, Texas Conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. in violation of the Lacey Act and the Airborne Hunting Act
-- TREVINO, Olga C. Converse, Texas Misapplication by a bank employee
-- VAMVOUKLIS, Ignatious Exeter, New Hampshire Possession of cocaine
-- VAN DE WEERD, Patricia A. Tomahawk, Wisconsin Theft by a U.S. Postal employee
-- WADE, Christopher V.
-- WARMATH, Bill Wayne Walls, Mississippi Obstruction of correspondence
-- WATSON, Jack Kenneth Oakridge, Oregon Making false statements of material facts to the U.S. Forest Service
-- WEBB, Donna Lynn Panama City, Florida False entry in savings and loan record by employee
--- WELLS, Donald William Phenix City, Alabama Possession of an unregistered firearm
--WENDT, Robert H. Kirkwood, Missouri Conspiracy to effectuate the escape of a federal prisoner
-- WILLIAMS, Jack L. Making false statements to federal agents
--- WILLIAMS, Kevin Arthur Omaha, Nebraska Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine
-- WILLIAMS, Robert Michael Davison, Michigan Conspiracy to transport in foreign commerce securities obtained by fraud
-- WILSON, Jimmie Lee Helena, Arkansas Converting property mortgaged or pledged to a farm credit agency, and converting public money to personal use
-- WINGATE, Thelma Louise Sale City, Georgia Mail fraud
-- WOOD, Mitchell Couey Sherwood, Arkansas Conspiracy to possess and to distribute cocaine
-- WOOD, Warren Stannard Las Vegas, Nevada Conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing a false document with the Securities and Exchange Commission
-- WORTHEY, Dewey Conway, Arkansas Medicaid fraud
-- YALE, Rick Allen Belleville, Illinois Bank fraud
-- YASAK, Joseph A. Chicago, Illinois Knowingly making under oath a false declaration regarding a material fact before a grand jury
-- YINGLING, William Stanley Interstate transportation of stolen vehicle
-- YOUNG, Phillip David Little Rock, Arkansas Interstate transportation and sale of fish and wildlife

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