Walter Atlee

A new federal indictment accuses Walter Atlee, former head of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs' drug abuse section, with attempting to extort $125,000 from the largest methadone clinic operators in California, Robert Kahn and Galen Rogers, and accepting a $15,000 payment from a Los Angeles clinic operator. Atlee had been charged in an earlier indictment with soliciting $50,000 to approve an application for another methadone clinic operator. Assistant U.S. Atty. Brian J.

The state's former top drug abuse official was sentenced Monday to five years in prison and ordered to pay $15,000 restitution to a methadone clinic operator from whom he admitted extorting the money. Walter Richard Atlee, 52, head of the drug abuse division of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine by U.S. District Judge William J. Rea.

The state's former top drug abuse official was sentenced Monday to five years in prison and ordered to pay $15,000 restitution to a methadone clinic operator from whom he admitted extorting the money. Walter Richard Atlee, 52, head of the drug abuse division of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine by U.S. District Judge William J. Rea.

A man who was the state's top drug-abuse official pleaded guilty to extortion charges Wednesday, a day after he showed up in court drunk. Walter Richard Atlee, 52, head of the drug abuse division of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, admitted extorting $50,000 from one man and attempting to extort $15,000 from another in return for promises of licenses to operate methadone clinics. U.S. District Judge William J.

A man who was the state's top drug-abuse official pleaded guilty to extortion charges Wednesday, a day after he showed up in court drunk. Walter Richard Atlee, 52, head of the drug abuse division of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, admitted extorting $50,000 from one man and attempting to extort $15,000 from another in return for promises of licenses to operate methadone clinics. U.S. District Judge William J.

Federal agents arrested Walter Richard Atlee, assistant director of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, on a federal warrant charging him with attempting to extort $50,000 from a Los Angeles physician who was seeking a state license to operate a methadone treatment clinic. FBI spokesman Jim Nielson said Atlee, 52, was taken into custody at the Glendale office of Dr.

A new federal indictment accuses Walter Atlee, former head of the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs' drug abuse section, with attempting to extort $125,000 from the largest methadone clinic operators in California, Robert Kahn and Galen Rogers, and accepting a $15,000 payment from a Los Angeles clinic operator. Atlee had been charged in an earlier indictment with soliciting $50,000 to approve an application for another methadone clinic operator. Assistant U.S. Atty. Brian J.