Former Utility Regulator to be Arraigned on Bribery Charge
PHOENIX (AP) – Former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce is scheduled to be arraigned on bribery and fraud charges in what prosecutors say was a scheme to accept payments from a water company owner in exchange for favorable treatment in a utility rate case.
Arraignments also are scheduled Wednesday for water company owner George Johnson, Pierce’s wife Sherry and lobbyist Jim Norton on bribery and fraud charges.
An indictment says Gary Pierce voted in 2011 to let Johnson’s company request that Johnson’s personal income taxes be covered by the utility’s customers.
Pierce is accused of taking bribes to push rate increases through the commission.
Authorities say Pierce was funneled $31,000 in payments and was the intended recipient of a $350,000 property in exchange for favorable votes for the utility.
Related News
From Archive
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Alaska LNG pipeline could require 7,000 workers at peak construction, developers say
- Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
- Elon Musk's Boring Co. fined for dumping drilling waste into Vegas sewer system
- $1.4 billion Midwest pipeline expansion to move more Canadian oil to U.S. Gulf
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
Comments