Feb. 8, 2007 - Prosecutors brought perjury-related charges Thursday against Ashley Andrews, convicted last year of conspiracy, fraud and inducing conflict of interest for using ties to Government House in order to illegally obtain $3.6 million in St. Croix sewer repair contracts.
The U.S. Attorneys office claimed Andrews arranged for his brother, Kenneth Andrews, and Ohanio Harris, a former aide to then-Gov. Charles Turnbull, to lie about their role in Andrews company, Global Resources Management (GRM).
Andrews was charged with six counts of subornation of perjury (i.e., obtaining or inducing perjured testimony from a witness).
Harris initially said he never supported Global Resources Managements attempts to get the no-bid contracts, then later admitted he took a $2,500 bribe from Andrews and arranged meetings with Turnbull, U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Jenkins said.
Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy and conflict of interest in July 2006.
Kenneth Andrews told investigators he had not given his brother permission to sign for him on GRM paperwork listing him as an employee. He later said he had given permission, Jenkins said.
Prosecutors said the information was important in showing the jury whether GRM was a real business, with employees capable of completing the sewer repairs, or just a shell company.
Former Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Alicia Hansen was also charged in relation to GRM for allegedly steering contracts to the company in exchange for a $1,000 campaign donation.
The jury was unable to reach a decision in her case.
Jury selection for her retrial is scheduled for Feb. 12.
U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon ordered authorities to arrest Andrews, who was released before his upcoming sentencing hearing.
It was not immediately clear when Andrews would be sentenced, or if he had yet been arrested for the perjury-related charges.
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