Four plead innocent to charges in utility-based bribery case
PHOENIX — A former utility regulator, his wife, a water company owner and his lobbyist all pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges of bribery and fraud.
Gary Pierce denied taking money through his wife, Sherry, for his vote on two issues before the Arizona Corporation Commission while Pierce was chairman. The money, according to the federal indictment, came from George H. Johnson, owner of the utility company that bears his name, who prosecutors said benefited financially from the commission action.
The money, the indictment says, was funneled through Jim Norton who was Johnson’s lobbyist.
U.S. Magistrate John Boyle allowed all four to remain free without bond. But he did prohibit them from traveling outside the country without permission of court officials, ordering them to surrender any passports or passport cards.
Read more: http://tucson.com/news/local/four-plead-innocent-to-charges-in-utility-based-bribery-case/article_7fde8ece-e901-5a1b-96c0-76d9bacf431e.html
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