Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Ex-CIA Official Pleads Not Guilty to Charge of Steering Business to Lifelong Friend

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The CIA's former No. 3 official and a defense contractor pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges resulting from an investigation that already has sent former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham to prison.

Kyle "Dusty" Foggo used his position as executive director of the CIA to steer business to San Diego defense contractor Brent Wilkes, who offered his lifelong friend a job and lavished him with vacations and other gifts, according to a federal indictment...Foggo, who wore an American flag pin on his lapel, was released on a $200,000 bond. Wilkes was released on a $2 million bond.

The 11-count indictment returned Tuesday charges the lifelong friends, both 52, with fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In a separate indictment, Wilkes was charged with 25 counts of conspiracy, bribery, money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions of more than $700,000...Foggo is the highest-ranking CIA officer to be charged with crimes allegedly committed while working for the agency......

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