SEATTLE (CN) - Already facing criminal charges of tax fraud and obstruction, the Washington state auditor faces a civil class action from taxpayers who accuse him of RICO fraud, criminal profiteering and other charges.
State Auditor Troy X. Kelley was charged in April with stealing more than $10 million when he ran a mortgage services company from 2003 to 2008. Kelley resisted the governor's demand to resign, but said he would go on leave to fight the charges.
A superseding indictmen t a week ago claims that his frauds continued after he was elected auditor, in 2012.
Legislators have talked about impeachment but done nothing about it officially yet. Kelley is expected to go to trial in January. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison on a stolen property charge and 20 years for money laundering. Other charges against him are punishable by three to five years in prison
In the civil class action, filed Tuesday, lead plaintiff Richard L. Pope Jr. seeks class certification and damages from Kelley and co-defendants United National LLC and Blackstone International, which Pope calls alter egos for Kelley.
Pope, an attorney with Lake Hills Legal Services, of Bellevue, represents himself in King County Court.
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