Columnist Jeff German: Kenny may help FBI net large fish

Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 | 11:11 a.m.

You could almost see the big shots squirming in their seats when word broke this week that Erin Kenny probably is cooperating in the FBI's political corruption probe.

There had been speculation for weeks that the former two-term county commissioner was singing to the FBI, but the news didn't hit home until people said Kenny herself was spreading it.

The fact that a political insider of Kenny's caliber and reputation for wheeling and dealing may have gone from target to cooperating witness is cause for many within Southern Nevada's establishment to have concern, especially those who have done business with Kenny.

How ironic it is that the politician who may have taken maximum advantage of the system's opportunities for corruption now has a chance to do the system a service.

If Kenny is cooperating, it is a sign that FBI agents are interested in a lot more than the political clout wielded by strip club operator Mike Galardi.

Defense lawyers have always suspected that Galardi was just the tip of the iceberg, and now we may get a chance to see whether Kenny's ties to big developers will take the investigation to a higher level.

If Kenny is 100 percent committed to helping the FBI, then our political system will be shaken up a lot more in the coming months -- which may not be so bad, considering the system is in need of an overhaul, anyway. It's a system inherent with conflicts, allowing elected officials to pursue their own business interests while they conduct the public's business.

Stan Hunterton, a former federal prosecutor who is not representing anyone in this probe, speculated that Kenny probably has only taken the FBI to "second base" in its investigation.

"Assuming she is a cooperating witness, you've got someone who has admitted violating the law," Hunterton said. "To get home they need to corroborate what she says."

In the meantime, the defense camp has someone to swing at, and one defense lawyer already is taking shots.

Dominic Gentile, who represents former County Commissioner Lance Malone, another central figure in the corruption case, described Kenny as a "great actress" who is good at making up stories to suit her needs.

"This woman has the ability to lie and look convincing," Gentile said. "Her credibility is worthless."

But FBI agents are used to this kind of defense rhetoric. Cooperating witnesses generally are dishonest people of questionable character looking to save their own skins. Agents will tell you they need such people to catch bigger fish.

And they will tell you they've effectively used witnesses with far worse reputations than Kenny's.

Twenty years ago, underworld associate Frank Cullotta, an admitted killer, helped the FBI send several high-profile mobsters to prison. More recently, John Branco, another organized crime associate with a lengthy rap sheet, went undercover for the FBI to put away top Los Angeles mobsters who had made a move on local street rackets.

If FBI agents can corroborate any information Kenny provides, she likely will be rewarded with a lighter sentence for any betrayal of the public trust.

But more importantly, some other big shots might wind up behind bars. If so, it might finally give us momentum to fix our political system.