Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-04

ster trustees, Mr.. Hoffa was the
only trustee indicted,
In terms Of money alone this
is said to be the largest criminal
case ever involving pension
funds.
Others Indicted
Indicted with Mr.. Hoffa on
charges of mail and wire fraud
and conspiracy to defraud the
pension fund we're:
Benjamin Dranow, IS, for
mer Minneapolis department
store executive now serving two
seven-year concurrent sentences
for tax evasion and for mail
wire and bankruptcy fraud
Dranow is currently appealing
from a bail jumping conviction
on which he drew a two and
one-half year sentence.
Abe I. Weinblatt, 81. Miami
Beach businessman and close
friend Of Dranow. sometimes
referred to as ''Dranow's book
keeper"
Calvin Kovens, 80, Baltimore.
born Miami Beach builder and
real estate operator convicted
last year Of making false
statements to q Federal savings
and loan association and con-
spiracy in connection with con-
struction Of q North Miami
shopping center. He was fined
$4,000 and put on five years
probation.
s. George Burris, IS, a New
York City, accountant listed a
president Of the First Berkeley
Corp, which repeatedly goi
more than $3.5 million in loans
from the pension fund.
Herbert r. Burris, IL, his son
q New York lawyer.
Zachary A. Strate, jr., 43
New Orleans builder and real
estate operator, former ownel
of q motor hotel which re-
portedly obtained more than
S4.5 million from the pension
fund. The indictment charged
that Mr.. Strate gave Dranow
a bag with more than 100000
| in cash two months after Mr.
Strate appeared before the
pension fund trustees in behalf
of his loan application.
Samuel Lyman, SO, Miami
Beach real estate. operator
whose holdings with his wife
repeatedly obtained more than
SIS million from the pension
fund.
"Diverting" Funds
The indictment charged thai
Mr.. Hoffa and his co-defend'
ants devised q scheme to de.
fraud the fund and its bene'
ficiaries by submitting falls
statements, emitting materia
facts and. after getting loans
"diverting by means Of various
fraudulent devices, substantial
amounts Of money for thei,
personal use and benefit"
The Burris father and sol
combination and Dranow, &C
cording to the indictment
looked for people and firms Il
need Of funds. claimed the,
were personally acquainte'
with Mr.. Hoffa and therefor
were in a favored position II
get loans approved.
Kovens referred people I,
Dranow as one who could ge
pension fund loans, Mr.. HoffI
referred people to the senio
Burris as an accountant wit
could render valuable assist
ance" in getting loans, boil
Burrises along with Dranov
and Kovens helped. preparI
financial data for loan appli
cations and Mr.. Hoffa influ
enced the trustees to grant TIL
loans, the grand jury charged
Took Compensation
For their services, according
to the indictment, the Bur
rises. Dranow, Mr.. Hoffs
Kovens and Mr.. Weinblatt de
manded and got money an
other compensation such a
options to purchase stock in tn
corporations borrowing fror
the pension fund. fees and con
tracts for services. construction
fees, ownership and control Q
the borrowing corporations.
! The indictment specificall
: cited IA loans arranged by tn
} defendants in six States-Flor
) ida, Louisiana, Missouri, Cali
. fornia. Alabama and Me-
. Jersey.
The defendants, the gran
jury charged. arranged for tn
; pension fund trustees to 90
false information concernin
: the purpose Of loans, tn