Reply #68: Teele reportedly left distraught by wave of investigations [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Teele reportedly left distraught by wave of investigations

By JOHN PAIN
Associated Press Writer

July 28, 2005

Media reports about Arthur E. Teele Jr.'s alleged contacts with drug dealers and his reputed homosexual affairs combined with several indictments left the former city commissioner distraught before he killed himself, two people who knew him said Thursday

Arthur E. Teele Jr. killed himself Wednesday in the lobby of The Miami Herald. Just hours before, a weekly newspaper published police reports containing allegations that Teele led a lurid private life.

Teele had pleaded not guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges this month for allegedly taking $59,000 in kickbacks to help a businessman get millions of dollars in contracts at Miami International Airport. If convicted, he faced a possible prison term of more than 100 years.

Miami-area media have given extensive coverage to Teele's corruption case. The Miami New Times, the weekly newspaper, put a lengthy story on its Web site Wednesday afternoon under the headline "Tales of Teele: Sleaze Stories." The bulk of it was based on allegations contained in police reports in his state corruption case, which had not gone to trial. The police reports detailed surveillance of Teele and contained interviews with inmates who spoke of their alleged dealings with Teele.
(snip/...)

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050728/APN/507281165&cachetime=3&template=dateline