Topeka — The former mayor of Junction City has been found guilty of bribery after he admitted taking money from a developer.
A federal court jury in Topeka convicted 52-year-old Michael R. Wunder on Friday on one count of conspiracy, four counts of unlawfully using his position for personal gain, three counts of bank fraud and a count of perjury.
He was acquitted on a count of evading bank secrecy laws and a bribery count.
Wunder was accused of accepting $19,000 in cash and gifts from Lawrence developer Ray Freeman. Freeman wanted and was awarded contracts, valued at more than $12 million, to develop housing on the west side of Junction City for troops and families at Fort Riley.
Wunder admitted taking the money in a conversation recorded by investigators, but said it was for his wife’s medical bills.
Wunder is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 10.
Comments
merrill 3 years, 7 months ago
By Steve Fry October 2, 2009 - 1:29pm
A U.S. District Court jury took only three hours to deliberate Friday morning before they convicted former Junction City Mayor Michael "Mick" Wunder, 52, of nine federal charges.
Jurors convicted Wunder of:
One count of conspiracy.
Four counts of unlawfully using his position as a Junction City commissioner to obtain money and other properties.
Three counts of bank fraud.
One count of perjury.
The jury acquitted Wunder of one count of structuring financial transactions to evade the Bank Secrecy Act requiring reports on transactions of $10,000 or more; and one count of unlawfully using his position as a Junction City commissioner to obtain money and other property.
Wunder, who remained free following the convictions, will be sentenced at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 10.
The U.S. Attorney's Office accused Wunder of taking $19,000 and receiving entertainment on theCountry Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo., and seeking a free house and lot in exchange for information so a Lawrence contractor could get a $5 million restoration project on the Junction City Opera House and to get the Junction City Commission votes so another Lawrence firm would get contracts to build two housing projects worth $12 million.
About noon Friday, the jury of six women and six men notified the court that they had reached verdicts. After Wunder returned to the courthouse, court resumed at 12:40 p.m.
funinsun1 3 years, 7 months ago
With such close ties to Lawrence - I hope the Lawrence District Attorney is looking at potential corruption issues right here in Lawrence - it is funny how those two companies could grow so large in this town and other "developers" struggle.... Perhaps, hard work and good planning - but tigers dont change their stripes.
Keith 3 years, 7 months ago
Hey Merrill,
How about you credit the news org you stole that article from?
hornhunter 3 years, 7 months ago
Would the cheese block be Sven ?
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