News / International
Mugabe's lobbyist convicted for violating US sanctions
10 Oct 2014 at 22:25hrs | Views
A South Side man was convicted of one of three counts charging him with illegally lobbying on behalf of top Zimbabwe government officials in violation of U.S. economic sanctions.
A federal jury acquitted C. Gregory Turner, 71, on two other counts he faced.
After the conviction, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo to put Turner on electronic monitoring pending sentencing, arguing he was a risk to flee.
Prosecutors noted that Turner was living in Israel when he was charged in 2013.
The jury deliberated three days before reaching its split verdict. On Thursday jurors sent Bucklo a note saying it was doubtful they would be able to reach a unanimous verdict on one of the counts.
After calling the weary-looking jurors into her courtroom and reading them an instruction on the process of reaching a unanimous decision, Bucko released the jurors and told them to come back Friday morning.
"Hopefully, a good night's rest is helpful," the judge told jurors.
In his closing argument to the jury Tuesday, Turner's attorney, Michael Leonard, painted Turner as "the ultimate free agent" who wasn't beholden to Mugabe's regime but working both sides to achieve a higher goal of getting the sanctions lifted to help the Zimbabwe people.
"He's not some huckster who's trying to corrupt the system," Leonard said. "He's an issues guy working on the continent of Africa for some greater good. Not to put cash in his pocket ... but for something higher."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas, however, pointed jurors to the dozens of emails and phone calls Turner made in an attempt to arrange a delegation of lawmakers to travel to Zimbabwe in 2009 to meet with Mugabe's regime. In the communications, Turner embellished his connections to the White House and referred to Mugabe as his "boss."
Prosecutors alleged that in 2008, Zimbabwe officials agreed to pay $3.4 million to Turner and a co-defendant, Prince Asiel Ben Israel, for their lobbying efforts after they bragged about close ties to newly elected President Barack Obama. Ben Israel pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven months in prison.
A federal jury acquitted C. Gregory Turner, 71, on two other counts he faced.
After the conviction, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo to put Turner on electronic monitoring pending sentencing, arguing he was a risk to flee.
Prosecutors noted that Turner was living in Israel when he was charged in 2013.
The jury deliberated three days before reaching its split verdict. On Thursday jurors sent Bucklo a note saying it was doubtful they would be able to reach a unanimous verdict on one of the counts.
"Hopefully, a good night's rest is helpful," the judge told jurors.
In his closing argument to the jury Tuesday, Turner's attorney, Michael Leonard, painted Turner as "the ultimate free agent" who wasn't beholden to Mugabe's regime but working both sides to achieve a higher goal of getting the sanctions lifted to help the Zimbabwe people.
"He's not some huckster who's trying to corrupt the system," Leonard said. "He's an issues guy working on the continent of Africa for some greater good. Not to put cash in his pocket ... but for something higher."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas, however, pointed jurors to the dozens of emails and phone calls Turner made in an attempt to arrange a delegation of lawmakers to travel to Zimbabwe in 2009 to meet with Mugabe's regime. In the communications, Turner embellished his connections to the White House and referred to Mugabe as his "boss."
Prosecutors alleged that in 2008, Zimbabwe officials agreed to pay $3.4 million to Turner and a co-defendant, Prince Asiel Ben Israel, for their lobbying efforts after they bragged about close ties to newly elected President Barack Obama. Ben Israel pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven months in prison.
Source - Chicago Tribune
