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“Americans will not tolerate corrupt conduct in the electoral process,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson. “Lies and deception can never be accepted as politics as usual in Connecticut. All voters have a right to know the truth when they cast their ballots. I want to acknowledge the diligent work of the U.S. Postal Inspectors, who expertly investigated this scheme, and our trial team, who did an exemplary job in prosecuting this case. Together, these dedicated public servants have stood up for transparency, a vital piece of our electoral process.”
Rowland, 57, served as governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004, and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991.
“The verdict in this case should give the public a sense that justice does prevail,” said Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge for the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Public officials are not immune from the law.”
According to evidence introduced during the trial, in October 2009, Rowland devised a scheme to work for the campaign of a candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut’s Fifth Congressional District during the 2009 and 2010 election cycle, and to conceal from the Federal Election Commission and the public that he would be paid to perform that work. Rowland drafted a sham consulting contract pursuant to which he would perform work for a separate corporate entity owned by the candidate.
During the 2011 and 2012 election cycle, another candidate, Lisa Wilson-Foley, was seeking election to the U.S. House from the Fifth District. Her husband, Brian Foley, owns a Connecticut nursing home company and other related companies. Rowland conspired with Wilson-Foley, Foley and others to conceal from the FEC and the public that Rowland was paid in exchange for services he provided to Wilson-Foley’s campaign.
In order to retain Rowland's services for the campaign while reducing the risk that his paid campaign role would be disclosed to the public, Rowland, Wilson-Foley and Foley agreed that the former governor would be paid by Foley to work on the campaign.
Rowland, Foley and others then created and executed a fictitious contract outlining an agreement purportedly for consulting services between Rowland and the law offices of an attorney who worked for Foley’s nursing home company. Foley made regular payments to Rowland for his work on behalf of Wilson-Foley’s campaign and routed those payments from his real estate company through the law offices of the attorney.
From September 2011 to April 2012, Rowland was paid $35,000 for services rendered to Wilson-Foley’s campaign. The payments were not reported to the FEC in violation of federal campaign finance laws.
The jury found Rowland guilty of two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison on each count; one count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum of five years in prison; two counts of causing false statements to be made to the FEC, which carries a maximum prison term of five years on each count; and two counts of causing illegal campaign contributions, which carries a maximum term of one year in prison on each count.
Rowland is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton on Dec. 12.
In December 2004, Rowland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud and tax fraud. On March 18, 2005, he was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and four months of home confinement. He was also ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.
On March 31, 2014, Foley and Wilson-Foley each pleaded guilty to conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions. They await sentencing.
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