Ex-W.Va. Gov. Admits Fraud and Extortion

Former three-time Gov. Arch A. Moore Jr. agreed Thursday to plead guilty to extortion, mail fraud, tax fraud and obstruction of justice, a prosecutor said.

Moore could be sentenced to 36 years in prison and fined $1.2 million, said U.S. Atty. Michael Carey, who announced the plea agreement and the five-count indictment at a news conference.

The indictment accuses Moore, a Republican, of committing illegal acts relating to his 1984 campaign, his third term as governor, from 1985 to 1989, and his unsuccessful 1988 campaign.

Moore, in a statement delivered through longtime aide Audrey Toler, said that many in West Virginia will be happy to hear the news of his indictment and agreement to plead guilty.

“This news will be greeted with a great joy by many in the state . . . “ Moore said. “There will be others who will be sincerely grieved by reason of their devotion to me and my family.”

Moore said he will be “forever grateful” to those who have stood by him.

It is the second time that Moore has been indicted for alleged improprieties in office. He and his 1972 campaign manager were indicted in December, 1975, on a charge of extorting $25,000 from the president of a shaky financial holding company that was trying to get a state charter for a new bank. He was acquitted in 1976.

Carey said that Moore is accused of:

--Blocking a federal grand jury’s investigation of him last year and this year.

--Obstructing justice by falsifying documents and trying to persuade witnesses to commit perjury and lying in an interview with federal investigators.

--Using his office to extort about $573,000 in 1985 from H. Paul Kizer and Maben Energy Corp.

--Filing false income tax returns in 1984 and 1985.

--Scheming to defraud the state of his salary and benefits by funneling about $100,000 in cash into his 1984 campaign fund.

Carey said he did not know when Moore would be arraigned but said it probably would be within 10 to 14 days.