07. Dec, 2010

Highland Lakes Newspapers

http://llanocj.com/news/fuelberg%E2%80%99s-brother-takes-stand-in-money-laundering-theft-trial/8194855/

FREDERICKSBURG – The defense in ex-Pedernales Electric Cooperative manager Bennie Fuelberg’s trial called lobbyist Curtis Fuelberg, the defendant’s brother, as first witness for the defense on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

The State has charged Bennie Fuelberg with theft and money laundering by funneling large amounts of cash to his brother and William Price, son of former director E.B. Price, through law firm Clark, Thomas & Winters.

Curtis Fuelberg took the stand and responded to Gunter’s opening questions regarding his lobbying relationship with PEC during his tenure as a consultant with Clark, Thomas & Winters from 1996 to 2007.

“There was no lobbying involved,” Curtis Fuelberg said, adding that his job was to keep law firm Clark Thomas and his brother’s company, PEC, informed on upcoming legislation, including the then-pending bill that would deregulate electricity throughout the State of Texas.

Before questioning from prosecutor Asst. Atty. Gen. Harry White began, District Judge Dan Mills warned Fuelberg that he was not to invoke the Fifth Amendment in his testimony, but if he had questions or concerns, he could ask for a short break to confer with his attorney.

White asked Fuelberg when he knew that a portion of the payments for his legislative lobbying issued to him from Clark, Thomas & Winters were partially or primarily funded by PEC, the largest electricity co-op in the nation.

“I’ve always known PEC was paying a portion,” he answered, “I don’t know exactly when I knew.”

Asked if his knowledge of the partial source of these $6,000-$6,500-per month payments came before the damaging independent Navigant Consulting report on PEC’s business policies and practices were published in 2008, Fuelberg said that he did.

White’s questioning led him back through the timeline, when Fuelberg admitted that he “figured it out,” within a year of his 1996 contract.