By GINA BARTON
gbarton@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 12, 2004
The former CEO of one of the area's largest home builders embezzled more than $3 million from his employer -- then donated more than $70,000 of that to political campaigns, according to documents filed Tuesday in federal court in Milwaukee.
Robert G. Brownell, who served as the top executive at Bielinski Homes until three months ago, is accused of illegally funneling money to the campaigns of President George W. Bush, U.S. Senate candidate Russ Darrow and former Gov. Scott McCallum, according to the documents. Brownell, 43, of Waukesha, is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, both felonies.
snip
According to statements Mann gave the FBI, the relationships among Brownell - who was paid $175,000 a year as CEO of Bielinski Brothers - and his co-conspirators included the trading of financial favors. One of those arrangements was a scheme to circumvent campaign finance law, according to the complaint.
"For example, if a campaign contribution limit was $1,000 per person, additional nominal contributors would be utilized to exceed this limit. The reimbursements would come from corporate funds," according to the affidavit of FBI Special Agent John Klugiewicz.
In this manner, Bush received $31,000; Darrow received $22,000 toward his Republican primary campaign for U.S. Senate, which he lost to Tim Michels; and McCallum received $21,500 for his failed gubernatorial re-election campaign, according to the affidavit.
much more...
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/oct04/266102.aspincluding a U.S. Attorney appointed by *.
I posted this in LBN, but imagine not everybody checks that forum.
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