WWW.USDOJ.GOV

FORMER EMPLOYEE OF MEDIA CONSULTANT TO BUSH CAMPAIGN CHARGED

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice announced that Juanita Yvette Lozano of Austin, Texas, a former employee of Maverick Media, the primary media consultant to George W. Bush's Presidential Campaign, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Austin, Texas on charges stemming from the release of the Bush Campaign's debate preparation materials to former Congressman Tom Downey, who was affiliated with former Vice President Al Gore. Lazano, 30, was charged in a three-count indictment with mail fraud, false statements to the FBI, and perjury before the grand jury. If convicted on all charges, Lozano faces up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

The indictment charges that Lozano secretly gathered and copied more than 120 pages of debate preparation documents and a 60-minute video tape of a private debate preparation session involving Bush and his key advisors. The package was sent to Downey, who was slated to assist former Vice President Gore in his debate preparation. The indictment charges that Lozano sent the materials to Downey in an Express Mail package using the name "Amy Smith" and a false return address. According to the indictment, the package included a cover note bearing the name "Amy" which described the materials and stated, "I will call you soon to find out what other materials can be useful to the VP." After receiving the package on September 13, 2000, Downey reported the matter to the FBI and turned the materials over to them.

Count One of the indictment charges Lozano with a mail fraud scheme to defraud the Bush Campaign of its confidential and valuable work product, and to defraud her employer, Maverick Media, of her "honest services." Count Two of the indictment charges that Lozano lied to FBI agents in a voluntary interview the week after the leak, and misled the agents regarding the purpose for her trip to the Post Office on the day she mailed the package to Downey. According to Count Three of the indictment, Lozano later appeared voluntarily before the grand jury in Austin, Texas, which was investigating the leak, and testified falsely that she knew nothing about Downey or his location prior to the leak.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Austin Resident Agency of the FBI, and is being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Section of the United States Department of Justice.

###

01-96