Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen are both being indicted for federal corruption charges for accepting money and gifts from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams since 2009, according to the Associated Press.
The indictment contains 14 counts but the McDonnell's argue and wrongdoing and stated Bob has already repaid thousands to Williams, a fraction of the money lent to the couple to pay off credit card debts, the AP reported.
Of the 14 counts, 12 can be punished by a 20 year prison sentence for each, and two others are punishable with a 30 year prison sentence, the AP reported. Fines for the indictments are between $250,000 and $1 million.
In the 43 page indictment, many occasions are highlighted where a transfer of money, gifts or favors were given to the McDonnells by Williams starting before McDonnell was inaugurated and moved into the Governor's mansion, the AP reported. The indictment also shows many of the exchanges were initiated by Maureen.
The three-person triangle began in 2009 when Maureen wrote an email to a senior staffer on behalf of her husband: "I need answers and Bob is screaming about the thousands I'm charging up in credit card debt. We are broke, have an unconscionable amount in credit card debt already, and this inaugural is killing us!," the AP reported.
Before the couple moved into the Governor's mansion in Virginia, Williams had already offered them money and he was also identified as the donor who offered the McDonnells use of his private jet during the campaign trail, according to the AP.
For the Governor's inauguration in December, Williams said he would pay for Maureen's Oscar de la Renta dress she wanted to wear, but never did because staffers advised against the move, the AP reported. The indictment states Maureen asked Williams for the dress but later refused it.
Two years later, Williams paid for McDonnell's daughters wedding dress and accessories, as well as giving the family money to help pay for the catering bills in exchange for the seat next to the Governor at the a political event in New York City , the AP reported.
Detailed in the indictment is a $50,000 loan Williams made to the McDonnells in May 2011, and another of $20,000 used to pay off credit card debts, according to the AP.
When it came time for the McDonnells to return the favor, Williams asked the couple to seek financial grants through state universities so it could fund research for the potential health benefits for one of the products named Anatabloc, the AP reported.
In exchange for their efforts in getting grants for Star Scientific, Williams offered his multimillion-dollar home on Smith Mountain Lake along with use of a Ferrari and a boat which was rented just for the couple, according to the AP.
Among the other gifts given was a Rolex watch, which Maureen asked Williams to buy for Bob as a Christmas gift, and the use of the Governor's mansion for a launch party for one of the companies products, the AP reported.
In February of last year, the amount of money and gifts given to the McDonnells began to catch more attention, the AP reported. In the indictment Maureen claims the couple is not friends with Williams, despite knowing him since 2009 and the couple also tried to cover up the $50,000 loan which Williams wrote a personal check for.
