Renzi Co-Defendant Convicted In Texas Case

James Sandlin of Sherman, Texas, former business associate of US Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) who was indicted with Renzi in February (earlier), was convicted June 11 by a federal jury in Texas in an unrelated case on two counts of submitting a false statement to a federally insured financial institution. Sherman was indicted in November 2007 for submitting financial statements to the Independent Bank of Sherman which allegedly failed to disclose $996,000 in loans from a retired Sherman couple. The maximum penalty on each count is 30 years in prison; a sentencing date was not disclosed (Houston Chronicle, DOJ).

Sandlin has pleaded not guilty in the Renzi case, which is scheduled to go to trial on October 14. He is named in 27 counts in that indictment including conspiracy, wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, money laundering and extortion under color of official right. He and Renzi are accused of using Renzi’s office to extort investors trying to obtain mineral rights.