Opinion ID: 489490
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Emptying the Trap

Text: 8 Customs Internal Affairs Agents went to the Ricards' home on November 26, 1980, with a search warrant. At first, the Ricards denied any knowledge of the Kramer Jaguar. But when the agents played excerpts of the tapes, the Ricards partially admitted their involvement. 9 Internal Affairs then interviewed William Nichols under oath on December 3. He denied having given TECS information to private individuals, and only admitted the story in pieces after being told of the tapes and other evidence. He signed his completed statement without mention of the $50 check to Laurie Nichols. When the agents confronted him with their knowledge of the check, he amended his statement and signed it again. 10 The grand jury subsequently returned an indictment against Nichols and the Ricards, charging them with conspiracy in the theft of government property (18 U.S.C. Secs. 371 and 641) and bribery (18 U.S.C. Secs. 201(b) and (c)) and charging Nichols with theft of government property (18 U.S.C. Sec. 641). At the end of a six day trial the district court directed a verdict of acquittal on the bribery count for Ray Ricard. The jury then found Nichols and Lea Ricard guilty on the conspiracy count, found Nichols guilty on the theft count, acquitted Ray Ricard of conspiracy, and acquitted all three of bribery.