Two acquitted in kickback case

Greg Tuttle

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 10:58 a.m.

A Bechtel Nevada executive and a Georgia businessman accused by federal prosecutors of a kickback scheme have been acquitted.

A U.S. District Court jury returned its verdict Monday against Dorothie Clark and Omotayo Idowu. Clark, the former director for diversity at the company that manages the Nevada Test Site, and Idowu, an electrical engineer, were charged last year with conspiracy, bribery and giving a kickback.

A jury acquitted them on all three charges after a four-day trial.

Prosecutors alleged Idowu paid Clark $6,000 "for favorable treatment in connection with a subcontract," according to the indictment issued last year.

But defense attorneys said Idowu and Clark were the victims of two shady business consultants who offered services they never delivered.

"They, in essence, set her up, and they did it quite well," said Clark's attorney, Thomas H. Peterson III.

David Chesnoff, who represented Idowu, said the Georgia businessman paid the consultants $9,500 on the promise they would help him secure contracts at Bechtel.

"The defense was these people scammed him," Chesnoff said. "He got caught up in another person's scam. It should never have been prosecuted."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rimantas Rukstele did not return a message seeking comment Monday.

Clark has been on unpaid leave from Bechtel since the charges were filed, Peterson said. She may not be able to return to her former position, but will likely return to the company, he said.