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Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Contractor: ‘It’s like winning the lottery’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Under cross-examination today, former contractor C.R. “Ronnie� Thornton insisted he was telling the truth when he testified he made illegal campaign contributions to former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell.
In exchange for the contributions, Thornton said he thought he was getting a lucrative contract to provide dirt for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s fifth runway.
“It’s like winning the lottery and on the way to pick up the ticket they say Bill Campbell’s got the check,â€? Thornton told defense attorney W. Fred Orr II.
Thornton, testifying for the prosecution in Campbell’s federal corruption trial, said he thought the $360 million dirt contract was stolen from him by the former mayor and Campbell’s friends. After his campaign contributions, Thornton received $2 million for dirt he provided for the runway.
Thornton - a veteran law enforcement officer and a retired police chief - pleaded guilty in 2001 to violating federal banking laws to conceal more than $126,000 in illegal contributions to Campbell’s 1997 re-election campaign. He served two years probation and paid a $10,000 fine.
Defense attorney Orr hammered at Thornton about statements he made to federal prosecutors and FBI agents and how those statements differed from what he claimed on the stand Tuesday.
“Are you good at testifying,� asked Orr, referring to the many times Thornton has been called to the stand in earlier cases.
“I used to be,� said Rowe. “I have been questioned in every court and I have never been questioned about my integrity, or whether I was telling the truth.�
Thornton also told Orr he knew his activities were possibly illegal. “I knew that I was possibly committing a crime,” Thornton said when Orr asked about the illegal campaign contributions. “But I felt that I had no choice in that, if I was going to receive the help of the mayor.”
Thornton claimed that, while his company got part of the $360 million dirt deal, he and his company never made any money from it because of the interest and expenses of acquiring the land near the airport where he got the dirt.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
Contractor says he was ordered to raise thousands for Campbell campaign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A former city contractor testified today that Bill Campbell told him to raise $100,000 for Campbell’s mayoral re-election campaign if he wanted to do business with the city.
C.R. “Ronnieâ€? Thornton told jurors in Campbell’s federal corruption trial that the former mayor thanked him for thousands of dollars he had already contributed to Campbell’s 1997 campaign — through straw donors —- but wanted more as the election neared.
Thornton was trying to win favor with the mayor in hopes of getting a contract to provide dirt to build a fifth runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
“ ‘It was almost time to start the next phase of the campaign and I needed to get more than I had gotten before,’ � the contractor quoted the mayor as saying. “He made it very clear that without him, there was no project.�
Thornton said he told the mayor he was struggling to find contributors and asked if he could recycle a list of straw donors that he had previously used.
He said Campbell replied: “Yes. Just get the money together.�
Thornton said he scrambled to find available money from his businesses but fell short of the extra $100,000. The indictment against Campbell says he raised $86,000.
Thornton testified that Campbell’s campaign treasurer, attorney Steve Labovitz, later called him at his home and told him he would have to come up with “a fresh list of names.� Campbell later won in the runoff.
In December 1999, the city bought $2 million worth of dirt from Thornton as part of the airport expansion, but he was passed over for the bigger dirt contract.
Thornton, who is a veteran law enforcement officer and a retired police chief, pleaded guilty in 2001 to violating federal banking laws to conceal illegal contributions to Campbell’s 1997 re-election campaign.
Thornton was sentenced to serve two years probation and pay a $10,000 fine.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
Dirt deal brought Campbell dirty money, feds say
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the past four weeks, more than 50 witnesses have testified in the federal corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. Today — as the fifth week of testimony begins — the Campbell trial turns, literally, to dirt: expensive dirt for a new runway at the Atlanta airport. Other witnesses are expected to testify about cash bribes and computer contracts.
WHO IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY: Contractor C.R. “Ronnie� Thornton
WHY IS HE IMPORTANT: In 1997, Thornton allegedly was trying to get a contract to provide dirt to build a fifth runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Prosecutors claim Thornton was told by Campbell that he had to raise $100,000 for Campbell’s 1997 runoff election. Thornton allegedly raised the money illegally. In December 1999, after Campbell won the runoff election, the city bought $2 million worth of dirt from Thornton. The dirt was used to level the ground needed for the fifth runway, which has not yet opened.
WHAT DEFENSE SAYS: Witnesses such as Thornton have deals with prosecutors and therefore their testimony is suspect.
WHO IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY: Vendor Samuel Barber Jr., owner of American Computer Technology
WHY IS HE IMPORTANT: Barber joined Campbell’s campaign finance committee and funded illegal contributions because he wanted city business, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally Yates’ opening statement to the jury. After the election, he received a software contract with the city.
WHAT THE DEFENSE SAYS: “Sam Barber, when confronted by the FBI, said, ‘I never gave Bill Campbell a cent,’� defense attorney Billy Martin told jurors in his opening statement. Martin claims Barber “lied repeatedly� and agreed to testify only after the government told him: “We’ve got you. Now, give us the mayor.�
WHO IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY: Vendor Dan DeBardelaben, owner of Concept 2000 Atlanta, a subcontractor to Barber’s company, American Computer Technology.
WHY IS HE IMPORTANT: DeBardelaben’s company and Barber’s company were given a Y2K computer contract, without a bid, after DeBardelaben told Campbell he wanted a computer deal with the city, prosecutor Yates said in her opening statement. During that meeting Campbell allegedly said: “What’s in it for me?� DeBardelaben allegedly responded: “Whatever it takes.� Months later, according to the government, DeBardelaben paid the mayor, Yates said. He went by the mayor’s home, and Campbell opened the trunk of his car and told DeBardelaben to drop in the $25,000 bribe, according to Yates. “DeBardelaben did as he was instructed,� the prosecutor said.
WHAT THE DEFENSE SAYS: DeBardelaben “is going to commit perjury here if he’s going to say what the government says he said,� defense attorney Jerry Froelich said in his opening statement.
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
