FBI Ethics Agent in N.C., Charged With Lying About Free Trips to Las Vegas

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBG9XSUG7E.html

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The agent in charge of ethics at the FBI's Charlotte bureau was accused Wednesday of lying about two expenses-paid trips to Las Vegas he accepted from a witness in a criminal investigation.

Erik B. Blowers was named Tuesday in a single-count indictment in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. He's charged with making a false statement in a routine financial disclosure form he filed in October 2000.

"This allegation is from 4 1/2 years ago and involves checking one box on one of the hundreds of forms he files each year," defense lawyer Chris Fialko said Tuesday. "We'll see what comes of it."

According to the indictment, Blowers was lead agent on an investigation of organized gambling and money-laundering in the Charlotte area that began in 1996. He became the handler for cooperating witness David Simonini, a builder of luxury homes.

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