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Subj: Conflict of County Attorney Jack Rhodes/and John Wodele/former Gov. Ventura  Date: 12/4/2005 7:36:01 P.M. Central Standard Time From: eagledahn1 To: sprather@pioneerpress.com, eagledahn1 Right-click picture(s) to display picture options
                 Sun. Dec.4th,2005                           To Reporter of www.pioneerpress.com sprather@pioneerpress.com Paul Pioneer Press | 12/03/2005 | Files allege illegal deals                     I Bill Dahn www.billdahn.com   whistleblower against corrupt officials and Ventura, questions the 1 year investigation of  bribery, conspiracy and conflicts of interest of now Suicide decedant George Andersen.                         Minnesota Lottery Director,re appointed by Gov.Ventura .                    Under penality of perjury, Jessie Ventura aka Jim Janos has never refuted the civil and criminal allegations in the Published Book "Always Cheat" www.lesliedavis.com , published Video www.billdahn.com                    And or the alleged Criminal  Constitutionality of MS609.748 Motion Vacate, Restraining Order Jesie Ventura , unabated by State Attorney General Mike Hatch and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner her husband John Wodele, employee Jack Rhodes, our  valid removal US Dist. Crt.02-0332 (Rosenbaum)  pending as $150.00 filing fee paid.newly discovered evidence  now www.BetUS.com , contracted in Costa Rica? THEREFORE:   Ex-Gov. Jesse Ventura is the new pitchman for a foreign-based Internet gambling site that takes bets on everything from football games to trial verdicts. BetUS.com tapped Ventura to promote the site, which also offers casino games and poker. Ventura, who left office in 2003 after a single term, will appear in radio and print ads that were to debut Wednesday.In one, Ventura says: "As governor, Jesse Ventura told it like it is, and now I'm telling you that BetUS.com

Published on September 1, 2005, Page B5, St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN)                  QUESTION:   HOW MUCH PAYOFF FROM STATE  NO BID CONTRACT MEDIA RARE, founder Michael Preiesnitz,Jeffrey D. denney and George Andersen?,to the then Governor Ventura?

                                      St.   email this    print this    reprint or license this    Posted on Sat, Dec. 03, 2005   M O R E   N E W S   F R O M     • Public Relations  • Sports  • Minnesota Timberwolves  • NBA  • Lottery

Files allege illegal deals

Criminal probe follows suicide of lottery chief

BY SHANNON PRATHER

Pioneer Press

Authorities investigating the dealings of the state's former lottery director George Andersen suspected that he was involved in bribery, conspiracy and conflicts of interest before he killed himself in 2004, according to an affidavit unsealed Friday.

A Ramsey County district judge unsealed search warrants kept secret for more than a year that lay out the criminal probe by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Division of Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement into Andersen's business dealings with Media Rare, a St. Paul public relations firm that enjoyed no-bid contracts with the lottery.

The warrants drafted in June 2004 are part of an open investigation centered on Andersen, Media Rare founder Michael Priesnitz and Media Rare Chief Financial Officer and later owner Jeffrey D. Denney, 47.

Only one of the three is alive today. Andersen, 53, committed suicide in January 2004, days before a legislative audit critical of the lottery's finance was made public, which touched off the criminal investigation. Priesnitz, 53, attempted suicide in February 2004 and then died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound this past April at his home in International Falls, Minn.

Investigators wrote there was "probable cause" to believe that the three "engaged in a conspiracy to wrongfully and illegally obtain Minnesota State Lottery funds and resources for Media Rare." A judge agreed and permitted searches of Media Rare's offices and records.

The warrants are the first public indication that Andersen's dealings might have amounted to more than mismanagement. At the time of Anderson's death in 2004, legislative auditor James Noble said that while he found many things to question and criticize about the lottery's finances, he did not find criminal wrongdoing.

The warrants sought access to business and financial records to further build a case. Agents confiscated paper records and computer files during their searches. It's unclear whether investigators discovered anything that supports their allegations.

Investigators handed over their findings to Ramsey County prosecutors last May, but no charges have been filed.

"We are still actively reviewing the case. There are some complicated legal issues," said Ramsey County Attorney spokesman Jack Rhodes.

Denney did not return calls for comment. Andersen's widow and his personal attorney said the allegations don't match the man they knew.

"I know he didn't do anything illegal," said Andersen's wife, Darlene Coates Andersen.

The Minnesota Lottery first fell under a cloud of suspicion in 2003 when critics questioned why it had high administrative costs and low returns compared with other states.

In a 27-page affidavit, special agent Douglas Forsman — often citing the 2004 legislative audit — outlined lottery contracts and dealings with Media Rare that the lead investigator said didn't add up. It noted the friendly relationship between Priesnitz and Andersen.

The Minnesota Lottery signed a series of no-bid contracts with Media Rare to produce television and radio shows promoting the lottery. According to court documents, the contracts amounted to about $1 million annually. The legislative auditor questioned the increasing costs of those contracts compared with their overall promotional value to the lottery.

The Minnesota Lottery also was a major sponsor of Media Rare's Minnesota Pro/Am Bass Tour. According to the search warrant, the lottery kept increasing its sponsorship of the fishing tournament, which attracted hundreds of participants, while canceling more lucrative sponsorships including the Wild, the Timberwolves and University of Minnesota athletics, which attracted tens of thousands of fans.

At the same time, Andersen was underreporting how much the lottery was spending on the fishing tournaments, the warrants said. The lottery reported investing $110,000 in the Pro/Am Bass Tour in 2003 but actually spent an estimated $248,000.

"The costs of sponsoring the Minnesota Pro/Am Bass Tour appear to be considerably larger than the benefits to the lottery," according to the 2004 legislative report.

Investigators who sifted through Andersen's e-mails, correspondence and lottery sponsorship contracts determined that Andersen used his position to divert royalty payments earmarked for the lottery to Media Rare, according to a search warrant.

When Hormel Foods wanted to do a deal with the lottery for a scratch-off lottery ticket, Andersen directed Hormel to sponsor the bass tour as part of the deal, investigators said in the warrants. Hormel paid a $50,000 sponsorship.

The warrant alleges that documents found in Andersen's lottery office suggest that in addition to Media Rare and the bass tour, the lottery chief was personally involved in a series of businesses controlled by Priesnitz and Denney. Investigators found in Andersen's office a copy of a business plan for one of Priesnitz's companies and a draft copy of an employment offer from Priesnitz to Andersen's son Mark Andersen.

Priesnitz's family could not be located for comment. Andersen's attorney and friend, Joseph O'Neill, said the former lottery chief was a man of high regard.

"I thought he was a very outstanding person to come into this job brand new and that he did a very fine job. He provided a real service for Minnesota," O'Neill said.

The Minnesota Legislature established the lottery in 1989, and Andersen was named its first director. Since the 2004 audit, the Minnesota Lottery has reduced its staff and slashed its operating expenses from $32 million to $22 million. It canceled its contracts with Media Rare in March 2004.

Shannon Prather can be reached at sprather@pioneerpress.com.

or 651-228-5452.

  /s/ Bill Dahn St. Paul, MN. 55107 tel: 651-453-1992 Candidate US Senate(Dayton Seat) www.billdahn.comLegal Homestead 256MortonW(Bills_Abstract) Quick Info 42USC Fair Housing ECF:#P1291866 Ojb-Sious.#408B19111 www.whiteearth.com Freedom Calendar Frank v City ST. Paul MNRICO Lawsuit Frank v City St.Paul RICO_JURYLawsuit - Watchdog News 7/2007 - Watchdog News