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Choice for jury in bribery case: dirty politicians or humble servants
The bribery trial of former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce and his wife Sherry Pierce is a clash of political paradigms.
Defendants reject plea offers in Corp Comm bribery case
Plea deals offered to a former state utility regulator and a lobbyist suggests that federal prosecutors are not done looking at other possible criminal activities at the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Lobbyist seeks to cut allegations from bribery indictment
A lobbyist is asking a judge to delete several allegations in an indictment that accuses him of serving as a middle man in a scheme to bribe an Arizona utility regulator on behalf of a water company owner.
Pinal County residents file suit against indicted utility owner
Pinal County residents long frustrated with utility owner George Johnson are piggybacking on criminal charges against him and others in a civil suit filed Monday.
Indicted lobbyist’s ex-wife gave FBI documents
An attorney representing indicted lobbyist Jim Norton said in court today the lobbyist’s ex-wife provided more than 250 pages of documents to the federal investigation that also includes former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, his wife Sherry Pierce and Johnson Utilities owner George Johnson.
U.S. attorneys want defense in bribery case to keep evidence confidential
Federal prosecutors are offering to tell defendants in the Corporation Commission bribery case who and what else they're investigating -- but only if they agree not to share that information with anyone else.
Gary Pierce indictment arises from larger FBI investigation
Defense attorneys for Pierce and his wife, Sherry, filed a motion saying the government wants the court to order that FBI reports, transcripts and recordings of witness interviews, and financial records and tax records of third parties be protected from the eyes of the public.
Corp Comm ethics code a long time coming as scandal swirls
The Arizona Corporation Commission is still without an ethics code, despite an initial pledge a year ago to come up with one and a federal bribery case casting a shadow over the regulatory body.
Ex-regulator, lobbyist, utility owner arraigned in federal bribery case
Former Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Gary Pierce and Johnson Utilities owner George Johnson had nothing to say for themselves after pleading not guilty to federal charges in the U.S. District Court on June 7.
Corp Comm to put tax-break pushed by indicted former member under scrutiny
In documents filed late Friday, Andy Tobin wants the current commission to tell affected companies to immediately start putting the additional money they're collecting from customers into an interest-bearing account. In the interim, he said regulators will review the policy change enacted at the behest of Gary Pierce.
Indicted lobbyist takes leave of absence to focus on criminal defense
Lobbyist Jim Norton is stepping down from Axiom Public Affairs to fully focus on his defense against an indictment for fraud, bribery and other charges.
Indictment raises question of appointed Corporation Commission
The head of the Arizona Corporation Commission says the indictment of a former member on bribery charges may make the case for appointing utility regulators instead of electing them.
