United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BEN ANDREWS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR INVOLVEMENT IN CONNECTICUT TREASURER’S OFFICE SCANDAL

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced that BEN F. ANDREWS, age 65, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. On October 29, 2003, a federal jury convicted ANDREWS of nine counts involving federal bribery, mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to money launder, and making false statements to federal agents. Noting ANDREWS’ substantial service to the community and lack of a criminal history, Judge Burns sentenced ANDREWS below the established Sentencing Guidelines range of 57-71 months. During today’s proceedings, Judge Burns did not impose a fine, but she intends to consider whether to impose a fine at a later date and ordered ANDREWS to submit to the United States Probation Office within two weeks a revised and accurate financial statement.

ANDREWS’ conviction stems from his receipt of a consulting contract worth $1.5 million in relation to the State of Connecticut’s investment of $150 million of state pension assets in a private equity fund in 1998. ANDREWS was to receive half of the consulting fees, and had agreed to share the remaining half with a close associate of former State Treasurer Paul J. Silvester. Evidence at trial showed that ANDREWS agreed to this arrangement, intending to influence Silvester’s investment decision, and with knowledge that a portion of the consulting fees would be kicked back to Silvester.

At trial, ANDREWS testified in his own defense. Prior to her imposition of sentence today, Judge Burns stated “I agree with the Government that Mr. Andrews committed perjury” on the witness stand, and “the jury agreed.”

Tom Carson, Spokesman for the United States Attorney’s Office, stated “The investigation and prosecution of public corruption in Connecticut is, and will remain, a top priority of this office. This case and today’s sentence demonstrate that corrupt public officials, and those who assist them and profit from their crimes, face substantial time in federal prison.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nora R. Dannehy, David A. Ring, and William J. Nardini.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov