Promoter Agrees to Aid Probe of Political Deals

Richard Raymond Keith again has agreed to cooperate with the government in the wide-ranging investigation of Orange County businessman W. Patrick Moriarty after pleading guilty in Los Angeles federal court to charges of income tax evasion, bankruptcy fraud and making false statements on loan applications.

The guilty pleas entered Monday to six felony counts came two months after Keith, 47, of Cathedral City, backed out of an earlier plea bargain with the U.S. attorney’s office, complaining that the Orange County district attorney’s office was leaking information about his activities to the news media.

Neither Keith, a self-described real estate promoter who says he does most of his business in bars and restaurants, nor his attorney, Brian O’Neill, would discuss why he finally decided to plead guilty.

‘Gag Order’ Imposed

As part of the plea bargain recorded before U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr., a “gag order” was imposed on Keith, who previously has granted several press interviews in which he said he laundered political contributions and provided prostitutes to several Southern California public officials at Moriarty’s behest.

Although no specific deal was made on Keith’s sentencing, which carries a maximum of 24 years in prison and $45,000 in fines, Chief Assistant U.S. Atty. Richard Drooyan made it clear in court Monday that the government would inform Hatter of the scope of Keith’s cooperation in future grand jury investigations and trials.

The surprise move by Keith occurred on the eve of the government opening its case against Moriarty in a trial charging Moriarty with bribing four City of Commerce officials by granting them secret shares of a poker casino in return for a gambling license in that city.