CIETC pay scandal case goes to trial
Posted: Monday, April 07, 2008
DES MOINES (AP) -- Trial in one of Iowa's biggest government scandals is scheduled to begin Monday in Davenport.
The case centers on the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium, where top officials were alleged to have paid themselves excessive salaries by dipping into federal job training funds.
Facing charges are CIETC's former chief accountant Karen Tesdell, former CIETC consultant Dan Albritton and former Iowa Workforce Development deputy director Jane Barto.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday in Davenport.
Former CIETC CEO Ramona Cunningham was scheduled to go to trial on the same date, but a judge has ordered a mental competency hearing in late May in her case.
The government submitted a witness list with 43 names, including former CIETC chief operating officer John Bargman and former board chairman Archie Brooks. Both men have already have pleaded guilty to various charges in the case. Also listed as a witness is former consultant Deb Dessert, who was married to Bargman, and former board member Ako Abdul Samad, now a state representative. Four Polk County supervisors were also on the list.
A defendant list filed under Barto's name contained 17 witnesses included a dozen names that appeared on the government's list. Other potential witnesses include former CIETC, Iowa Workforce Development and state agency officials.
CIETC was the primary state-funded job training organization in central Iowa. It came under scrutiny in April 2006 after a state auditor's report identified Cunningham and two other executives as having received excessive compensation packages.
The auditor delved into CIETC's operations after a budget analyst at Iowa Workforce Development raised concerns about how grants were being issued to the agency. The report also noted a "less than arm's length" relationship between CIETC and the leadership at Iowa Workforce Development, the agency assigned to oversee it.
The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
The case centers on the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium, where top officials were alleged to have paid themselves excessive salaries by dipping into federal job training funds.
Facing charges are CIETC's former chief accountant Karen Tesdell, former CIETC consultant Dan Albritton and former Iowa Workforce Development deputy director Jane Barto.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday in Davenport.
Former CIETC CEO Ramona Cunningham was scheduled to go to trial on the same date, but a judge has ordered a mental competency hearing in late May in her case.
The government submitted a witness list with 43 names, including former CIETC chief operating officer John Bargman and former board chairman Archie Brooks. Both men have already have pleaded guilty to various charges in the case. Also listed as a witness is former consultant Deb Dessert, who was married to Bargman, and former board member Ako Abdul Samad, now a state representative. Four Polk County supervisors were also on the list.
A defendant list filed under Barto's name contained 17 witnesses included a dozen names that appeared on the government's list. Other potential witnesses include former CIETC, Iowa Workforce Development and state agency officials.
CIETC was the primary state-funded job training organization in central Iowa. It came under scrutiny in April 2006 after a state auditor's report identified Cunningham and two other executives as having received excessive compensation packages.
The auditor delved into CIETC's operations after a budget analyst at Iowa Workforce Development raised concerns about how grants were being issued to the agency. The report also noted a "less than arm's length" relationship between CIETC and the leadership at Iowa Workforce Development, the agency assigned to oversee it.
The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
