-Caveat Lector-
"Wilson, a Democrat, is considered one of the state Senate's most
powerful members because of his 28 years in office and his skills as a power
broker."
Another friend of Bill's, no doubt.
Arkansas State Senator Indicted
By DAVID A. LIEB
.c The Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- The man considered the most powerful member of the
Arkansas Senate was indicted Tuesday on charges that he netted $1.3 million
through fraudulent contracts and kickbacks.
The federal racketeering indictment named state Sen. Nick Wilson and nine
other people on charges of mail fraud, obstruction of justice and money
laundering.
U.S. Attorney Paula Casey said the scheme involved the ``corruption of the
Arkansas General Assembly with Wilson as the leader and primary
decision-maker and planner.''
The indictment alleges that Wilson benefited from a $3 million grant program
he helped set up in 1997. The grants pay for legal work performed on behalf
of children caught in the middle of custody cases and for attempts to enforce
payment of child support money.
Prosecutors alleged that Wilson submitted bills under that program for work
he never performed, and directed attorneys to pay him kickbacks for work they
performed.
The program was halted soon after it began, when news reports raised
questions about its propriety.
Bill Walmsley, an attorney for Wilson, said he expected the senator to plead
innocent.
``Any time that you have a citizen Legislature such as Arkansas has, where
those legislators basically make their living with work outside of their
legislative duties, there always are fine lines,'' Walmsley said.
Wilson, a Democrat, is considered one of the state Senate's most powerful
members because of his 28 years in office and his skills as a power broker.
Also indicted were state Sen. Michael R. Bearden and former senators Steve
Bell and Michael Todd. Todd and Bell worked on the grant program legislation
with Wilson.
Others named in the indictment were lawyers Murrey L. Grider -- Wilson's
former law partner -- and his son M. Joseph Grider. Two others named, Tommy
Venters and Burton Elliott, are former directors of the state Education
Department.
Attorneys for the others did not return calls seeking comment.
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