OTHER NEWS - June 9, 1992

Tennessee Firm to Pay $1-Million Fine: The Benton Mortgage Co. of Knoxville agreed to pay the fine as it pleaded guilty to concealing illegal payments in connection with a federal housing program. Benton admitted making payments to former officials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development as it worked on financing three low-income housing projects. The company pleaded guilty to three felony counts of concealing material facts from the government. The prosecution said Benton made three payments to former HUD officials Lance Wilson and Philip Abrams through a third former official, J. Michael Queenan.