BRISPEC sting operation
Encyclopedia
The Bribery and Special Interest (BRISPEC) sting operation was a sting operation
conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
investigating corruption
in the California State Legislature
from 1986 to 1988. The operation was also known as Shrimpscam because FBI agents posed as representatives of a West Sacramento
-based shrimp
processing company who gave campaign contributions to law makers in exchange for favorable legislation
to the front company
. A couple of the bills were actually passed by both the Assembly
and Senate
, but were veto
ed by Governor
George Deukmejian
, who was tipped off in advance.
The operation sent Board of Equalization
member Paul Carpenter to prison
. In addition to Carpenter, three members of the state legislature also spent jail time: Pat Nolan
, who was the minority leader at the time of the raid, as well as State Senator Joseph Montoya and Assemblymember Frank Hill.
Speaker Willie Brown
and Assemblymember Gwen Moore
were also targeted by the operation, but emerged unscathed. Brown had a $1000 campaign contribution shoved under his door returned to the donor. Moore's office was raided as part of the sting operation, but she was eventually acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
investigating corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
in the California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
from 1986 to 1988. The operation was also known as Shrimpscam because FBI agents posed as representatives of a West Sacramento
West Sacramento, California
West Sacramento is a city in Yolo County, California. It is contiguous with Sacramento, but is separated by the Sacramento River which is also the county line, so West Sacramento is in a different county than Sacramento...
-based shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
processing company who gave campaign contributions to law makers in exchange for favorable legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
to the front company
Front organization
A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups, or corporations...
. A couple of the bills were actually passed by both the Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
and Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
, but were veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed by Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
, who was tipped off in advance.
The operation sent Board of Equalization
State Board of Equalization (California)
The State Board of Equalization is a public agency charged with tax administration and fee collection in the state of California in the United States. The areas of authority of the Board fall into four broad areas: sales and use taxes, property taxes, special taxes, and acting as an appellate body...
member Paul Carpenter to prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. In addition to Carpenter, three members of the state legislature also spent jail time: Pat Nolan
Pat Nolan
Patrick J. Nolan is an American lawyer, politician and conservative activist.-Early Political Activism:Nolan began his career as a conservative activist at the age of 14 in the Goldwater for President campaign. Pat was a leader in the Youth for Reagan for Governor in 1966 and in each of Reagan's...
, who was the minority leader at the time of the raid, as well as State Senator Joseph Montoya and Assemblymember Frank Hill.
Speaker Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
and Assemblymember Gwen Moore
Gwen Moore (California politician)
Gwen Moore is a former California State Assemblywoman who served from 1978 until 1994. She represented the 49th District; after the 1990 redistricting, the 49th was renumbered as the 47th district. With term limits impending, Moore decided to leave the Assembly with one term left and ran for...
were also targeted by the operation, but emerged unscathed. Brown had a $1000 campaign contribution shoved under his door returned to the donor. Moore's office was raided as part of the sting operation, but she was eventually acquitted of any wrongdoing.
External links
- Men in Black: After 20 years, FBI raid recalled, by Andrea Wieland, published in the Capitol Weekly, The Newspaper of California Government and Politics, August 21, 2008.