By Manny Gonzales
The Denver Post
Copyright 2006 The Denver Post
All Rights Reserved
Two volunteer firefighters from Colorado who worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort were sentenced this week to almost two years in federal prison for accepting a bribe.
However, while Andrew Rose and Loyd Holliman pleaded guilty to accepting $20,000 from a food contractor, they maintain they only took the money to help those affected by the disaster, their attorneys said Thursday.
“They got caught up with trying to help people survive after the hurricane,” said Vinny Mosca, Rose’s attorney. “Once they got down there, there was little supplies and they were working with very little federal assistance or state assistance, as everyone knows now.”
If Rose, a lieutenant with the Stonewall Fire Protection District in Trinidad, and Holliman, assistant fire chief, were going to donate the money to those in need, they never got their chance.
The two were arrested by federal agents after the money changed hands, and the government case against them was strong, involving a two-month sting operation and audiotapes of negotiations between the contractor and the two men.
“Because of this current environment, it would have been very risky to try to convince a jury in their defense,” Holliman’s attorney, Thomas Calogero, said. “There’s been a great deal of scrutiny on FEMA’s representatives here in New Orleans.”
A Louisiana businessman under contract for $1 million in food services claimed the men demanded an initial bribe of $20,000 and weekly kickbacks of $5,000, prosecutors said.
Larry Parsons, chief of the fire district, was unwavering in his support of Rose and Holliman. Defense attorneys submitted letters of support from Parsons and the Colorado State Forest Service.
“They are truly remorseful for their actions and offer apologies, not excuses for their conduct. … I am convinced their actions were the result of being exhausted and identifying too closely with the victims they were trying to help,” Parsons wrote.
“Loyd and Andrew can and will make a difference in the community if you allow them to,” Parsons said.
Clarence Morey, district forester for the Forest Service, wrote that Rose and Holliman have been instrumental in containing blazes on federal land. He also asked the judge to consider that Holliman and Rose were working up to 18 hours a day for the four months they were on leave and working for FEMA.
“They are not bad people,” Morey wrote. “Even if the state of Colorado was not facing the worst fire season in its history, I would ask you to consider leniency for them based purely on who they are and the service they consistently provide to others.”