Three former Va. game officials indicted over African safari

[babylonsister]

Three former Va. game officials indicted over African safari

By WARREN FISKE, The Virginian-Pilot
© September 21, 2007

RICHMOND

Three former top officials at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries have been indicted on charges of misusing state funds to buy supplies for a 2004 African safari, according a spokesman for the a ttorney g eneral's office.

A Richmond multi -jurisdictional grand jury indicted William L. Woodfin Jr., the agency's former director, and former game wardens Michael G. Caison and Terry C. Bradbery on Sept. 12, the attorney general's office announced Thursday.

Two counts against Caison were unsealed Thursday. Two counts against Woodfin and one against Bradbery were unsealed Tuesday. Each charge is a felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

"All the charges are related to purchases made on state credit cards prior to the trip to Africa in 2004," said Tucker Martin, spokesman for the a ttorney g eneral's office.

The three indicted men were criticized in a 2005 audit for running up $11,532 on state credit cards to supply a two-week safari they went on with then-board Chairman Dan Hoffler, a Virginia Beach developer. Hoffler eventually reimbursed the state.

Hoffler resigned his post after the release of the 52-page audit, which said the agency was rife with cronyism, waste and misuse of state property. Woodfin, Caison and Bradbery retired.

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http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=132957&ran=80755

[leftchick]

1. scum! They go to KILL and call it CONSERVATION??

scum scum scum all of them....




<snip>

From July through September, the agency bought - at Bradbery's or Caison's request - four bullet-proof double rifle cases, four walking sticks, 20 combination locks, three digital cameras, neck pillows, duffle bags and carry-on luggage. The total cost was $7,354.

Caison, in early September, bought four DVD players and four binocular straps for $419.

Hoffler, according to the audit, came up with idea to go on the safari, saying he wanted the agency's top officials to learn about conservation efforts in Africa.

[Ian David]

2. On the other hand, those lions sick lions chained to fence posts won't bother anyone no more. n/t