The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 19, 1995, Page 3, Image 3
Defense la1
case attack
Associated Press
COLUMBIA ? Attorneys for five lawmakers
caught in the 1990 Operation
Lost Trust political corruption sting on
Tuesday accused federal prosecutors of
hiding documents concerning other
bribery allegations.
That the documents concerning capital-gains
tax legislation were delivered
by the FBI just two weeks ago, though
defense lawyers requested them years
ago, shows prosecutorial misconduct,
defense lawyer Joel Collins said.
"What other documents did they
keep from us?" he asked as a hearing
expected to last three days began in federal
court.
Lost Trust involved bribes paid by
lobbyist and FBI informant Ron Cobb
in connection with a pari-mutual betting
bill, which did not pass.
The bribery allegations involving
the $8.6 million retroactive capital-gains
tax break in 1988 were not part of Lost
Trust. But some Democrats contend
prosecutors targeted black lawmakers
in Lost Trust while not pursuing allegations
in the tax case that involved
powerful Republicans, including former
Gov. Carroll Campbell.
Campbell has denied any improprieties.
Twenty-eight legislators, lobbyists
and government officials were caught
Couple ki
AtwduM Press
ORANGEBURG ? A stabbing attack
al community early Wednesday left i
dead, their teen-age daughter seriously
and sheriffs deputies looking for a fami
suspected in the assault.
Larry and Pam Jeffcoat, both 39, wei
4
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t]r
1
? Visa U.S.A. Inc. 1995
wyers in 'Loi
federal proi
in the Lost Trust sting. In addition to c
bribery-related charges, some also in- t:
volved drugs. Many of the transactions
between lawmakers and Cobb were 1<
videotaped. s
Five former lawmakers, Larry Bland- "
ing, Paul Derrick, B.J. Gordon, J.M. e
"Bud" Long and Luther Taylor, were
granted new trials because of technical L
mistakes at their first trial. Blanding, t
Gordon and Tavlor are black.
Now the five want U.S. District Judge f
Falcon Hawkins to throw the charges
out because of the alleged misconduct t
by prosecutors. s
Because of the allegations, Justice ?
Department lawyers from Washington
are handling the case. One of them, Dan c
Butler, argued that even if former As- v
sistant U.S. Attorney John Barton knew i
about the capital-gains files during the i
original 1990 trials, it was not relevant t
to Lost Trust.
"They have not been denied their I
right to a fair trial. They have their rem- ?
edy already: a new trial," Butler said. 1
"They are not entitled to a perfect trial.
They are entitled to a fair trial." t
Collins, who is Taylor's lawyer, con- i
tends Barton knew the FBI had docu- \
ments in which Cobb said he bribed i
state Sen. Jack Lindsay, who since has t
died, and former Rep. John Rogers for ?
their help on the capital-gains bill. ?
Rogers was the only person proseilled,
daugl
Orangeburg County Sheriff C.R. J
inarm-. Their daughter, Joann "Nikki" J<
i couple endy walked in during the assau
injured, Authorities issued a nationwic
ly friend year-old Ray S. "Rhett" Nivens Jr
charges Nivens with assault anc
re killed, intent to kill in the girl's stabbin
said. He also is a suspect in the s
* Mm fc
nor& t
tanyc
The Gamecock J
Mi jl*
si irusi
secutors
uted in connection with those allegaions.
However, Cobb testified during Taym-'s
trial that he didn't bribe Lindsay,
aid Blanding's lawyer, J.E. Bell III.
The credibility of Ron Cobb was the
ntire case," Bell said.
Without the documents, defense
awyers said they were hampered in attempts
to impeach Cobb's credibility.
Collins said he even specifically asked
or the documents.
"Barton tells you over and over these
hings Fm asking for do not exist," Collins
aid. "John Barton was aware of the
acts of this case."
FBI agent Richard Denton said the
apital-gains documents were not found
mtil October because the papers were
n a different file. He said he did not
mow who authorized the files' separaion.
The Justice Department and the
^BI have done internal investigations,
ind both say prosecutors acted propery
Columbia lobbyist Steve Smith tesified
late Tuesday former U.S. Attorley
Bart Daniel tried to get him to convince
Lindsay to plead guilty to an
inidentified charge through several
leals. Lindsay agreed to plead guilty
ifter Daniel threatened to indict his
staff, Smith said.
Lindsay died a few weeks later.
iter injures
smith Jr. said. Nivens is described
rr x ftin ]. :j.1 3 U
jncoat, appar- cvj pouiiua, wiui ucua.
It. Deputies responded
ie alert for 41- ter Nikki ran across tl
The warrant house, bleeding from w
1 battery with wounds to her chest,
g, authorities They found the Jeffc
layings. near state Highway 4 oi
t^d a
Scjtioc
)U w
mm?1
It's every
yOU. AA/alT-t tC
wired lunds totaling more tnan 3>zu,uuu
in early 1994 while he claimed in bankStarting
this week, the crime report will
change from a strictly itemized report
to a summary of the week's events.
Over the past week there have been
three auto break-ins, one each in the
Senate Garage, the S-6 Lot, and the S8
Lot, totaling $866 in damage. Two
weeks ago there were 2 attempted grand
larcenies in the S-8 Lot. An unknown
person has been breaking and entering
and then attempting to hotwire cars
with a screwdriver.
Monday, October 16, a man was arrested
for trespassing after notice in the
USC Law Center. Hie suspect was found
sleeping in the bushes rifear the Law
Center. Upon questioning the suspect
admitted having been previously ori
in Orang
as white, 6 feet tall and Medical Service
hair. were stabbed m
to a call about 1 a.m. af- The Jeffcoafc
le street to a neighbor's he apparently s
hat appeared to be knife rials said.
Jane Carsoi
oats' bodies in their home ter in Orangebi
itside Neeses. Emergency tion about the te
Lt -
)1&
>]T?>
I
ere
> be.
Thursday, Octotx
Holderman de<
Associated Press
COLUMBIA ? A decision whether to
indict former University of South Carolina
President James Holderman for
bankruptcy fraud is expected within 30
days, a published report says.
A federal grand juiy has been hearing
testimony since September, and
prosecutors will decide within a month
whether to ask for the indictment, The
Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported
Wednesday.
The newspaper, quoting unidentified
sources, said several people testified
that Holderman wrote checks or
?r 19, 1995
rision expected \
c
ruptcy court that he had no money to
repay almost $1 million in debts. t*
His lawyer, Joe McCulloch, said he ii
could not comment on specifics in the s]
case but said he has met with federal B
prosecutors. ? w
If Holderman, 59, is indicted and h
V
convicted of fraud, he could face as long
as 18 months in prison without parole, tl
Holderman resigned as president n
of the university in 1990 amid charges f(
of extravagant spending. a
A year later, he pleaded guilty to receiving
extra compensation and no con- n
test to state income tax evasion. He was cl
sentenced to five years' probation and C
500 hours of community service. p
dered to stay away s
^a from the property, a
The suspect was b
detained and
transferred to I
Richland County a
Detention Center, s
F
There was a a
KlU/lr spate of license a
?^? ???^? plate thefts in the s
PFPflRT blossom Garage t
^ ? ? over the weekend, r
An unknown per- h
son or persons removed the plates from 2
three separate vehicles. Two weeks ago
there were two break-ins in the Bios- I
som Garage. f
t
Friday, October 13, unknown per- c
eburg stab!
s director Don Lundy said both tions to th<
ore than 20 times. there also
3' 7-year-old son was unharmed; Sheriff
ilept through the incident, offi- forcement
eral knive
1 of The Regional Medical Cen- the attack
1J i.?1 ;_r
org wouiu iiUL release miuima- vuiuiu
en's condition. She referred ques- sies in Ne1
ran I
tO VM
month $2# # fill
^ndl>::^l'< Cadtf for appo
SiMPfe) i^sJbieclcs & cash accepted
flHB expires iJ/iO fvr ;:> "J.
APVl5LMC.Nl
for Students enrc
LPUCATI^Nl
and / or interest
5ELC<?NPA[2.Y ELPUCAT
0,4>A4?dUc
AN HISTORIC P
Efficiency
One Bedroon
Two Bedroor
Rents include all utilit
All rates quoted are
(Leases available, price!
Summer S
$100 per mont
May 1 - Au
Located acros!
University of South C;
and the State Capita
offers the premiei
downtown
(803)7991230
Pendleton Street C
~3
vithin 30 days
The current investigation began af;r
bank records showed discrepancies
1 Holderman's testimony of how he
pent $29,000 in pension payments from
ellSouth Communications, where he
ras a board member from 1985-91. He
ad promised the money to creditors.
In March 1994, Holderman testified
lat he spent the money looking for a
i i f .1 J' 1_
ew piace to live, including searcning
ir a new home and making business
intacts in other states.
But instead of travel expenses, bank
ecords showed thousands of dollars in
becks and wire transfers to five South
larolina men and a Pennsylvania coule,
the Observer said.
0
on(s) stole $118 worth of textbooks from
i student's room in Snowden. This may
lave been the doing of another student.
I There has been another shoplifting
it the University Bookstore in the Rusell
House. Thursday, Oct. 12, two sus>ects
were seen loitering in the store
ind a witness saw one of the suspects
ittempt to conceal some books in his
hirt. When the witness confronted the
wo suspects, the suspects fled to a waiting
car, dropping the books as they ran.
Phe last major shoplifting was on the
!5th of September.
I Wednesday, Oct. 11th, a student was
bund smashing a computer keyboard
o pieces in the Thomas Cooper Library,
loing about $100 in damage.
Ding
e sheriffs department, but authorities
withheld details.
's investigators and the State Law EnDivision
forensics team recovered sevs
believed to be the weapons used in
ir Samuetta Marshall ordered autopwberry.
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igust 1
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