Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: U.S. treasurer investigated Date: Sat, 31 Oct 92 14:00:15 EST Message-ID: \SE A;TOP OF THE NEWS;NATION \HD U.S. treasurer investigated \BY FROM WIRE DISPATCHES AND STAFF REPORTS U.S. Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando is under investigation in an influence-peddling scheme, sources said yesterday. The FBI said it searched the offices of her former Atlanta-area company. She "requested and was placed on administrative leave" Thursday, said Rich Meyers, a Treasury Department spokesman. The FBI is probing whether Ms. Villalpando, 52, accepted travel, lodging and other benefits from Communications International Inc. of Norcross, Ga., said sources familiar with the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Agents executed five search warrants Wednesday in the District area and in Georgia, the FBI said. Frank Scafidi, a spokesman in the Washington field office of the FBI, refused to confirm that Ms. Villalpando is under investigation. But he said the five search warrants involve fraud, racketeering, bribery of public officials, conspiracy to defraud the government and false statements. The Los Angeles Times and the New York Times first reported the investigation yesterday. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM