Republican State Treasurer Paul Silvester was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for steering $527.5 million in state pension investments to private funds in exchange for kickbacks
Ben Andrews, a Republican on Rowland’s 1998 ticket, was convicted in connection with the same pension bribery scheme and sentenced to 30 months in prison
Eight days after Rowland’s resignation, Gov. Jodi Rell ousted seven senior officials — among them four who were leaving under their own clouds of controversy
John Rowland’s corruption was not a solo act. The people around him were busy too.
In October 2000, Ben Andrews — the Republican candidate for Secretary of the State on Rowland’s 1998 reelection ticket — was charged with bribery, racketeering, fraud, money laundering and witness tampering in connection with a scheme involving hundreds of millions of dollars in state pension investments, according to the SEC. It was the second time a Republican from Rowland’s 1998 ticket had been charged in the scheme, the Hartford Courant reported.
When the charges were announced, Rowland told reporters Andrews had a “stellar resume” and cautioned against rushing to judgment, the Courant reported. Andrews was convicted three years later and sentenced to 30 months in prison, according to the SEC.
Republican State Treasurer Paul Silvester received a 51-month federal prison sentence in November 2003 for steering $527.5 million in state pension investments to five private funds in exchange for kickbacks.
When Rowland resigned on July 1, 2004, new Gov. Jodi Rell moved quickly to install her own leadership. Eight days later, she called for the resignations of seven senior Rowland officials — among them four whose departures carried their own controversy, the Hartford Courant reported.
Arthur Diedrick, the state’s economic development czar, had been involved in a controversial meeting over state funds awarded to a close Rowland friend, Robert Matthews — a meeting that became the subject of Rowland’s impeachment hearings. Diedrick testified he could not recall any details about it, the Courant reported.
Arthur Spada, the Public Safety commissioner, had seen his chief of staff arrested the week before on felony fraud charges for bilking the state thousands of dollars in improvements to a house he was renting from the state, the Courant reported.
Arthur Rocque Jr. had served as Department of Environmental Protection commissioner for seven years and spent 33 years with the agency. He announced his October retirement when Rell called for resignations, the Courant reported.
James Adams, a deputy transportation commissioner, had been the liaison responsible for awarding a Bradley International Airport parking garage contract to The Tomasso Group. Federal authorities had identified that project as one of three state jobs awarded to Tomasso entities under investigation for possible bid-rigging, the Courant reported.
Four officials. Eight days. One administration.
By Kevin Coughlin
