Ex-Rep. Swindall Guilty in Perjury Case

Former U.S. Rep. Pat Swindall was found guilty Tuesday on all nine counts of lying to a federal grand jury about a money-laundering scheme. He faces at least 10 months in prison.

“Obviously, I’m very disappointed,” Swindall said, saying he would appeal. “We’ll be trying this case again, and, I hope, not in Atlanta.”

He insisted that publicity kept him from getting a fair trial in Atlanta, where Swindall, a Republican, spent two terms representing the eastern suburbs before being defeated for reelection in November after his indictment.

Probation Not Option

He had hoped for an acquittal and a 1990 race against Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.). Swindall, 38, faces 10 months to five years in prison on each perjury count. Probation is not an option under federal sentencing guidelines, which Swindall supported in Congress. He also faces fines of up to $250,000 on each of the nine felony counts.

Swindall looked on impassively as the verdict was read. He will be sentenced Aug. 25.

The government had charged that Swindall lied to a federal grand jury about an $850,000 loan he attempted to negotiate in 1987 from an undercover Internal Revenue Service agent posing as the representative of a South American businessman. Swindall wanted the money to finish building his suburban home.

Undercover Tapes

Swindall had told the grand jurors he did not know the source of the money for the loan he was negotiating. However, undercover videotapes and audiotapes played for the jurors depicted the undercover agent repeatedly telling Swindall that the money probably would be derived from the sale of illegal drugs.

His attorney had portrayed Swindall as the innocent victim of a government “sting” who had relied on the honesty of a third man involved in the deal, Charles LeChasney. LeChasney, who testified for the government during the trial, had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering.

The nine counts represented nine subject areas in which Swindall was accused of making 20 false statements to the grand jury on Feb. 2, 1988. The jury found 18 of the statements to be deliberate, willful lies. U.S. District Judge Richard C. Freeman dismissed a tenth count earlier.

“I could have understood one or two counts, but I just don’t understand this,” Swindall said.

The jury found that he lied when he said he did not recall being told that the money included narcotics dollars, when he said he never agreed to accept the money and when he said a $150,000 check he received, but later returned, had nothing to do with the deal.