Tyson Executivess Found Guilty
In Espy Influence-Peddling Case

WASHINGTON —(AP)— The investigation of Tyson Foods Inc. gifts to former Clinton administration Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy and his girlfriend has produced convictions of two company executives.

Tyson lobbyist Jack Williams was convicted last Friday by a federal jury of two counts of lying to investigators. Corporate spokesman Archie Schaffer III was convicted of two counts of giving illegal gifts.

The jury acquitted Williams of two counts of giving illegal gifts and cleared Schaffer of one gift count. Both men plan to appeal.

The verdict came after a two-week influence-buying trial that included testimony about the poultry company's wining and dining of Espy in 1993 and 1994, when the Agriculture Department was considering new safety regulations that could have cost Tyson millions.

"This sort of activity will not be tolerated," prosecutor Robert Ray said afterward.

"Oviously we're disappointed,"Schaffer said.

He faces one to five years in prison for charges related to a Tyson party celebrating President Clinton's inauguration and a lavish birthday party for Tyson's chairman in 1993.

Williams faces up to 10 years for lying to the FBI in 1994 and fines up to $500,000. Both men will be sentenced Sept. 10.

The jury deliberated about six hours over two days. Neither Schaffer nor Williams showed emotion when the verdict was announced, but embraced after the jury filed out.

A four-year independent counsel investigation concluded that the two men knew they were breaking federal laws banning gifts to government officials and that they tried to cover it up.

At trial, the executives claimed they were just doing their jobs.

Tyson, the nation's largest poultry producer, spent an estimated $12,000 on Espy and his then-girlfriend, including tickets and plane fare to a Dallas Cowboys football game and limousine rides, prosecutors charged.

The girlfriend, Patricia Dempsey, and Tyson vice chairman John Tyson testified for the prosecution. Prosecutors also used internal Tyson memos, travel documents, credit card receipts and the like to try to trace Espy's attendance at Tyson events in Washington and at company headquarters in Arkansas.

John Tyson and his father, company chairman Don Tyson, were named as unindicted co-conspirators. Espy, who resigned as agriculture secretary in 1994, goes on trial in October on charges he took illegal gifts from Tyson and other companies he regulated. He has pleaded innocent.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge James Robertson threw out much of the case against Williams and Schaffer, including conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud charges.