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February 23, 2012

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After 2 years not paying on fine, former assemblyman sends state a check

By (contact)

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 | 1:59 p.m.

Wendell Williams

Wendell Williams

A former assemblyman, who hadn’t made a payment in two years on a fine for failing to file campaign finance reports, sent a $100 check to the state Monday.

The check came more than a month after his wife told the Las Vegas Sun the check was in the mail.

Despite Wendell Williams’ payment, the Nevada Secretary of State’s office said it would still ask the attorney general’s office to pursue civil action for $9,400 in unpaid fines. The case has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for review, though no complaint has been filed yet.

Scott Gilles, deputy secretary of state, said even if Williams intends to resume regular payments after more than two years of not paying the fine, he was already shown leniency.

“The secretary of state’s office is no longer flexible with that,” he said. “The reality is, the Secretary of State’s office cut him a break when the payment agreement was signed (in 2003). He thumbed his nose at that.”

The $15,000 agreement to settle the campaign finance violations was reached with then-Secretary of State Dean Heller, who is now a U.S. senator.

Before the payment that arrived at the Capitol Monday, Williams’ last payment was in August 2009.

Williams also owes the city of Las Vegas $1,940 for personal use of a city cell phone and incorrect time cards that led to him receiving pay for hours he did not work as a city employee while serving in the Legislature.

The city wrote off that debt after unsuccessfully trying to collect it.

Reached last month, Williams blamed the Secretary of State’s office. His wife Zelda Williams said in 2009, she asked for a receipt or an audit of how much her husband owed, but never heard back.

She said on Nov. 8 she had sent a check a few days before, after getting a notarized letter on Nov. 1.

Gilles said the office never received a letter asking for the balance of what Williams owed.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

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  1. By petef (Peter Fritz)
    Dec. 6, 2011
    3:03 p.m.
    Flag

    I have had tenants like that,, check is in the mail.. these folks appear to be great role models for there kids. not.

  2. By BChap (Bradley Chapline)
    Dec. 6, 2011
    3:32 p.m.
    Flag

    As quoted by the Las Vegas Sun, they reported former Assemblyman Wendell Williams, "was cut a break by the Secretary of State's Office when the payment agreement was signed (in 2003). He <Williams> thumbed his nose at that."

    This is a prime example of how corrupt most politicians are even when given preferential treatment over that of their constituents.

    My questions would be, why wasn't this former assemblyman's wages attached and or garnished? Why wasn't he arrested and jailed? Why has it taken so long for even civil action to be taken against this corrupt politician?

    The answer is simple. Although every dirty bird is affiliated in differing flocks, the majority migrate down the same route of corruption. Precisely why I have little or no respect for the majority of elected officials. Further, this serves to validate personal reasoning against my critics who fault me for voting, "none of the above".

  3. By longun45 (Anthony Wright)
    Dec. 6, 2011
    5:59 p.m.
    Flag

    Masto file charges, against a democrat? Keep dreaming.

  4. By vegaslee
    Dec. 6, 2011
    7:47 p.m.
    Flag

    The city wrote off the debt when he stole from the Taxpayers of this city?

    They put a lean on your house if you don't pay the trash bill yet let this thief walk away.

    Seems someone needs to look into how they write of the debts of crooks in this town.

  5. By Bob_Realist (Bob Realist)
    Dec. 7, 2011
    9:09 a.m.
    Flag

    That payment shouldn't even cover fines, fees and late charges. Can we get a total of all those as well as the outstanding amount owed? Although this and many other news sources have covered this story, no progress has been made toward prosecuting this thief and fraudster.

  6. By UTE (William Finch)
    Dec. 7, 2011
    9:29 a.m.
    Flag

    What frustrates me is the attitude displayed of, "They need to try harder to get their money back." Heck, if I owe someone money, they don't need to come after me to collect it.

  7. By Bob_Realist (Bob Realist)
    Dec. 7, 2011
    10:43 a.m.
    Flag

    Eight hours a day at .50 cents per hour for however long it takes and then release him from prison with a felony record...That is what he should have had in the first place.

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