Fast facts on the government’s case

Thursday, April 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

* INVESTIGATION: Began in August 1993 through a joint effort of the FBI and Metro Police intelligence section. It relied heavily on electronic surveillance to gather evidence of the alleged conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes in exchange for legal rulings.

* THE EVIDENCE: Telephone conversations of District Judge Gerard Bongiovanni suggest that he allegedly needed the bribe money to pay his mortgage and taxes. The government used a video camera to record informant Terry Salem paying alleged middleman Paul Dottore $2,500 to fix Salem's case.

* DEFENDANTS: Bongiovanni and Dottore are accused of eight counts of racketeering, three counts of wire fraud and conspiracy. The judge also is charged with making false statements to the FBI. Alleged bribe seeker Jeff Kutash is accused of two counts of racketeering and conspiracy.

* PUNISHMENT: Racketeering carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The fraud counts carry five years apiece.

* MOB CONNECTION: La Cosa Nostra associate Ben Spano allegedly called Bongiovanni in December 1995, asking him to release his brother from the Henderson jail, the FBI affidavit said. The judge ordered the release. Bongiovanni's secretary allegedly helped to fix tickets and perform other favors for La Cosa Nostra associates and members.

* PBIGGEST SURPRISE: Bongiovanni's campaign manager and friend, attorney Peter Flangas, was not indicted, contrary to information leaked to the media. The lawyer's name is frequently mentioned in an FBI affidavit, which concluded that "intercepted conversations also reveal the close relationship between Bongiovanni and Flangas, and also that Flangas regularly uses his influence with Bongiovanni to gain releases and bail reductions for his client."