Convicted HUD Aide’s New-Trial Appeal Denied
Deborah Gore Dean, convicted of 12 felony counts in the Ronald Reagan-era HUD scandal, lost bids Monday for a new trial and for a judge to declare her innocent of the charges.
The former executive assistant to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Samuel R. Pierce Jr. could face up to 57 years in prison and $3 million in fines when she is sentenced Feb. 25.
She was convicted Oct. 26 on three counts of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, one count of accepting an illegal gratuity from a consultant and eight counts of lying about her activities at HUD.
Dean was depicted as being instrumental with others in funneling millions of dollars to housing projects that benefited politically connected Republicans.
She testified that although she was the contact point for well-connected developers, Pierce made all the key decisions.
Pierce, who disclaimed knowledge of the high-level misdeeds in his department, has not been charged.
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