A federal investigation?
During his cross-examination of a witness, defense attorney Ralph Kohnen pointed out the presence of an FBI agent in the gallery, indicating the federal agency is still looking into his client, Pete Beck.
Cincinnati FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said he cannot confirm nor deny any possible ongoing or active investigation.
In March 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor cleared Beck of any wrongdoing in a fraud case the agency investigated. The case circulated around possible pension irregularities.
CONTINUING COVERAGE
Count on The Journal-News to bring you the latest developments in the criminal trial of former state lawmaker Pete Beck. Visit www.Journal-News.com for the latest and follow @MDPitmanJournal on Twitter for live updates.
A common refrain from Special Agent Rick Ward as he testified in the Pete Beck trial on Thursday was, “I found it not to be true.”
Senior Assistant Attorney General Dan Kasaris questioned Ward, an investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, about various statements in the administration hearing with the Ohio Division of Securities. That includes why Beck received $27,500 in payments from Christopher Technologies, if he had prior knowledge of a $500,000 investment from Michael Farms, and why Beck was fired from his CPA firm Donohoo, Cupp, Beck & Associates.
But defense attorney Ralph Kohnen spent much of his cross-examination of Ward trying to place reasonable doubt on the record about why Beck said what he did during his administrative hearing, known as a Rule 23 hearing. Kohnen also pointed out nuisances in how Ward worded two search warrants and his interviewing strategy, which he suggested were designed to “trap” Beck.
As the trial appears to be winding down, Ward is the last of the state’s witnesses in the criminal trial of Beck, who faces dozens of criminal counts — including corruption, and multiple perjury, money laundering, theft and securities-related charges — for his involvement in Christopher Technologies and TML Consulting.
Beck’s defense team has not stated to the Journal-News if it will put on a case, but has designated a couple dozen possible witnesses to call if a case is presented.
Ward denied the suggestion they trapped Beck, and was steadfast in the confidence of his investigation of Beck. He also said he did not draw any conclusions before his interview, which included BCI forensic accountant Leo Fernandez and led by Ohio Division of Securities investigator Harvey McCleskey.
However, Ward conceded some points and assumptions made by Kohnen during cross-examination.
“You’re relying on information you received from others in your sworn statement,” Kohnen said. “There’s a chance you misunderstood what they said, isn’t that right?”
Ward responded, “It’s possible.”
Kohnen further illustrated a point of attempting to allegedly trip Beck in the interview by asking him about his elected offices with the city of Mason, which included a two-year stint as mayor form December 2003 to December 2005.
“This sounds like a comical version of Abbot and Costello’s ‘Who’s on First’ (routine). My point is it’s confusing , right? This is confusion,” Kohnen said. “It took you a page and a half for you to come to a meeting of the minds.”
Ward scoffed at the idea that trying to pin down Beck’s held elected offices was “comedy.” He said Beck “bounded around” elected offices and wanted to define them.
Beck served on Mason’s city council from December 1997 to December 2005, the last two years as mayor. He then sat due to term limits before winning election in 2007. He was appointed to an unexpired term in the Ohio House in 2009 and served until he resigned in November 2014.
Kohnen pushed the idea that Beck is a “scapegoat” in this alleged investment scandal and that those pursuing civil litigation have “reason to throw Mr. Beck under the bus” in order to salvage their investments.
“You always, when you’re assessing somebody you’re interviewing, you always assess any type of motivation why somebody would lie,” Ward said.
And Ward said, “I’m sure it’s been done,” when Kohnen said investors and others were looking for their own interests when they went after Beck in civil litigation.
Kohnen also asked if Ward found it “odd” the investors in Christopher Technologies and TML Consulting are saying “the exact same thing in the exact same way to the same questions.”
“I can’t say what they testified to,” Ward responded.
Kohnen then took it a step further, saying, “It’s almost as if it’s rehearsed.”
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