Brief: Ex-Hilton executive charged with perjury

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998 | 11:45 a.m.

The Kansas City Star reported former Senior Vice President Markland Rousseau, now an Atlanta businessman, pleaded innocent to the state charges in Jackson County Circuit Court and was released on a signature bond.

Hilton escaped federal prosecution in the case in August by agreeing to pay a $500,000 fine. At issue is whether a $250,000 grant by Hilton to a firm controlled by the former Kansas City Port Authority chairman rewarded him for his support of Hilton.

The Port Authority selected Hilton in early 1993 over two other casino applicants vying for rights to a casino site. Hilton now runs the Flamingo Hilton casino at that site.

The Star reported Rousseau faces felony charges of lying to the Gaming Commission about whose idea it was for Hilton to make the grant to former Port Chairman Elbert Anderson's company.

Rousseau told the commission Anderson did not raise the issue.

But a Missouri Highway Patrol investigation found Anderson solicited the payment.

"As a result of this agreement, Anderson understood that his vote had been 'financially secured' by Hilton Hotels Corp. for future developments," said a police statement supporting the indictment of Rousseau.

Missouri gaming regulators are scheduled to consider whether to renew Hilton's Kansas City license Jan. 27. It expired in October but was conditionally extended pending the outcome of the state investigation that resulted in the charges against Rosseau, the Star reported.