Source: www.usdoj.gov\opa\pr\Pre_96\April95\217.txt.html

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1995

WIFE OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ IS CHARGED, AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice announced today that Nina K. Solarz, the wife of Stephen J. Solarz, former Congressman from New York, has been charged with two misdemeanors in an information filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and that Mrs. Solarz has agreed to plead guilty to the charges in the information.

The information charges Mrs. Solarz, 63, with conversion of government funds in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 664, based on a $5,200 check she caused to be written in 1990 on her husband's account at the now defunct House Bank, knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account to cover the check.

The charge also alleged that in 1992 Mrs. Solarz improperly took $7,500 from the American Friends of Turkish Women, a charitable organization in which Mrs. Solarz served as President, in violation of District of Columbia Code, Section 3816.

Mrs. Solarz faces a maximum penalty of one year and 90 days imprisonment and a $25,300 fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement filed with the court, Mrs. Solarz has agreed to plead guilty to the charges and the government has agreed to take no position regarding incarceration.

The information and plea agreement stem from the Department of Justice's ongoing investigation of House Bank. This case is being prosecuted by attorneys assigned to the House Bank Task Force, Criminal Division, composed of an assistant U.S. Attorney from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a senior litigation counsel from the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division, a senior counsel in the Criminal Division, and Special Agents of the FBI. The Task Force was formed in December, 1992, to continue the work of the preliminary inquiry into the House Bank that Malcolm R. Wilkey, retired Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, conducted as a Special Counsel to the Attorney General in 1992.

This is the eleventh criminal charge filed to date by the task force. The former Sergeant At Arms, Jack Russ, pled guilty to three felonies and is serving a 24 month prison term. Former member of Congressman Carroll Hubbard Jr., pled guilty to three felonies and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Former Congressman Carl C Perkins pled guilty to three felonies and was sentenced recently to 21 months in prison. Former Delegate Walter Fauntroy pled guilty to filing a false financial statement and is awaiting sentencing. Carol Brown Hubbard, the wife of former Congressman Hubbard, pled guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to five years probation. Martha Amburgey, the secretary to former Congressman Perkins has pled guilty to two felonies and was sentenced to probation. Ignatius DeMio, the nephew of former Congresswoman Oakar has pled guilty to one misdemeanor and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 1995.

Former Congressman Mary Rose Oakar was recently indicted for seven felonies, including conspiracy and filing false statements, and is awaiting trial. Former Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was recently indicted on five felony counts alleging acceptance of bribes and is awaiting trial. John P. Fitzpatrick was recently indicted on eight felony counts alleging bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and giving false testimony before the grand jury. The investigation of the House Bank Task Force is continuing.