Aug. 17, 2006 – Jury selection began Wednesday in the trial of former Virgin Islands Senator Alicia "Chucky" Hansen and re-trial of two men accused of using political connections to illegally secure a $3.6 million sewer contract.
Prosecutors charged Hansen and businessmen Campbell Malone and Ashley Andrews with wire fraud, making fraudulent claims against the government, and conspiracy charges.
Malone and Andrews stood trial on the same charges in July but the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Former gubernatorial aide Ohanio Harris was to be tried with the men but pleaded guilty to conspiracy and conflict of interest charges days before the July trial started.
Prosecutors allege the four formed a shell company, Global Resources Management, and used political connections to win the no-bid contract to repair St. Croix's ailing sewer system.
When Gov. Charles W. Turnbull voided the contract before authorizing work to begin, Andrews and Malone allegedly filed false claims for work they'd already done.
One part of the claim seeking government compensation listed Global Resource Management employees working more than 24 hours in a single day, prosecutors said during Malone and Andrews' first trial.
The territorial government never paid the claim.
Andrews and Malone also allegedly filed false asset statements while seeking a bond to insure their work – reporting more than $100,000 in assets. Prosecutors said the company actually had an account balance that varied between $7 and $5,000.
Also indicted was Hansen's husband, former Public Works Department employee Esdel Hansen.
District Court Judge James Giles acquitted Esdel Hansen in July.
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