United States v. Gordon Walgren

BACKGROUND

Gordon Walgren, former Senate Majority Leader of the Washington State Legislature, was indicted on nineteen counts of bribery, mail and wire fraud, and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (“RICO”). The indictment resulted from a two-year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) into gambling and alleged political corruption in the State of Washington. At trial, the district court granted a motion for acquittal on six counts at the close of the government’s case. On the remaining 13 counts, the jury found Walgren not guilty of five, failed to reach a verdict on five, and found him guilty on three counts: mail fraud, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 & 1342 (Count XXIV), Travel Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (Count XVII), and RICO, 18 U.S.C. § 1962 (Count II). Walgren was sentenced to three concurrent five-year terms of imprisonment. The convictions were affirmed on appeal, United States v. Bagnariol, 665 F.2d 877 (9th Cir.1981), and Walgren’s petition for writ of certiorari was denied. Walgren v. United States, 456 U.S. 962 , 102 S.Ct. 2040 , 72 L.Ed.2d 487 (1982). Walgren has served his sentence and completed his parole. He now seeks to have…