Congressman indicted in Ariz. land deal

[BR_Parkway]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080222/ap_on_go_co/congressman_indicted

Congressman indicted in Ariz. land deal

WASHINGTON - Republican Rep. Rick Renzi was charged Friday with extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other crimes in an Arizona land swap that authorities say helped him collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs.

A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Tucson accuses Renzi and a former business partner of extortion and conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government. Renzi, a three-term member of the House, announced in August that he would not seek re-election. His lawyer said Friday he was not guilty.

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The grand jury accused Renzi of using his position as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee to push the land swaps for business partner James W. Sandlin, a real estate investor from Sherman, Texas. The indictment comes after a lengthy federal investigation into the land development and insurance businesses owned by Renzi's family.

Authorities allege Renzi and Sandlin concealed at least $733,000 that the congressman took for helping seal the land deals. They are each charged with 27 counts of wire fraud, extortion and money laundering, and conspiracy connected to a transaction in Cochise County, Ariz.

[skipos]

1. Best friends forever...

[jackson_dem]

2. No surprise it is a rethug