Communications International Inc

The former company of U.S. Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, who is at the center of an FBI influence-peddling probe, received $68.6 million in non-competitive federal contracts under a program for minority businesses, according to government data released Monday. The company, Communications International Inc., was awarded 56 telecommunications contracts under the program from 1983 to 1992, the Small Business Administration data show.

Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, U.S. Treasurer during the George Bush Administration, pleaded guilty Thursday to evading federal income taxes, obstructing an independent counsel's corruption investigation and conspiring to conceal financial links with her former company. Villalpando, whose name is still printed on paper currency, admitted that she committed the crimes as charged by prosecutors for the Justice Department and by Arlin M.

The FBI is investigating U.S. Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, one of the Bush Administration's highest-ranking Latinos, for allegedly violating federal statutes by accepting travel, lodging and possibly other benefits from a private company, sources close to the inquiry said Thursday. FBI agents searched four buildings in the Washington area and one in suburban Atlanta on Wednesday, reportedly seizing bank records, computer files and boxes full of papers.

The former company of U.S. Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, who is at the center of an FBI influence-peddling probe, received $68.6 million in non-competitive federal contracts under a program for minority businesses, according to government data released Monday. The company, Communications International Inc., was awarded 56 telecommunications contracts under the program from 1983 to 1992, the Small Business Administration data show.

It all began with Alvin Rivera's memos. The documents appear innocuous enough--routine queries within the Southern California Rapid Transit District regarding a company seeking minority contracts. But Rivera's questions last year about Communications International Inc.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office has confirmed it is investigating the award of minority business contracts to a Metro Rail subcontractor amid allegations that an eligibility certificate was forged to steer business to the company.

Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, U.S. Treasurer during the George Bush Administration, pleaded guilty Thursday to evading federal income taxes, obstructing an independent counsel's corruption investigation and conspiring to conceal financial links with her former company. Villalpando, whose name is still printed on paper currency, admitted that she committed the crimes as charged by prosecutors for the Justice Department and by Arlin M.

Tens of millions of dollars in Los Angeles mass transit construction contracts intended for small, struggling businesses owned by minorities or women are going to firms that do not appear to be disadvantaged or allegedly have acted as "fronts" for non-minority firms, The Times has learned. The "disadvantaged business enterprise" program has not worked as intended largely because of loopholes in federal rules and poor enforcement by local transit officials, records and interviews show.

Two former investigators with the Southern California Rapid Transit District who were fired last summer filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, charging that they were dismissed because they were seen as "whistle-blowers." Allen Laster and Richard Yeats are seeking more than $1 million in damages in the suit, which charges that they were fired July 18 because of the diligence of their investigation.

For decades, public access programming on cable television has provided a virtually free forum for community activists and aspiring entertainers, for preening star wannabes as well as serious-minded political watchdogs. But in Los Angeles and across California that forum began crumbling last week, a development that advocates say will strip ordinary citizens of a valuable 1st Amendment platform.

The FBI is investigating U.S. Treasurer Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, one of the Bush Administration's highest-ranking Latinos, for allegedly violating federal statutes by accepting travel, lodging and possibly other benefits from a private company, sources close to the inquiry said Thursday. FBI agents searched four buildings in the Washington area and one in suburban Atlanta on Wednesday, reportedly seizing bank records, computer files and boxes full of papers.

Two former investigators with the Southern California Rapid Transit District who were fired last summer filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, charging that they were dismissed because they were seen as "whistle-blowers." Allen Laster and Richard Yeats are seeking more than $1 million in damages in the suit, which charges that they were fired July 18 because of the diligence of their investigation.

Tens of millions of dollars in Los Angeles mass transit construction contracts intended for small, struggling businesses owned by minorities or women are going to firms that do not appear to be disadvantaged or allegedly have acted as "fronts" for non-minority firms, The Times has learned. The "disadvantaged business enterprise" program has not worked as intended largely because of loopholes in federal rules and poor enforcement by local transit officials, records and interviews show.

It all began with Alvin Rivera's memos. The documents appear innocuous enough--routine queries within the Southern California Rapid Transit District regarding a company seeking minority contracts. But Rivera's questions last year about Communications International Inc.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office has confirmed it is investigating the award of minority business contracts to a Metro Rail subcontractor amid allegations that an eligibility certificate was forged to steer business to the company.

* MCI Inc. said it would respond to Qwest Communications International Inc.'s new offer of $8.45 billion by March 28.

* Qwest Communications International Inc. today plans to announce that about one-third of its fiber-optic phone network that connects California and New York is complete.