By Lori Ehde
The jury trial for Rock County Feedlot Officer John Burgers, charged on multiple counts of soliciting and accepting bribes from Global Ventures Inc., is so far scheduled for Dec. 10 in federal court.
That date may be extended, however, because the prosecution has indicated it will seek additional charges against Burgers which will allege more specific illegal acts.
Burgers, 48, of Hills, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday, Sept. 20, on charges that he accepted money from the Pipestone hog operation Global Ventures Inc. to overlook mismanagement of potentially hazardous waste.
He was placed on paid administrative leave from his duties as director of the Rock County Land Management Office pending an internal investigation of allegations contained in the indictment.
Meanwhile, Burgers' attorney has filed a motion to suppress statements Burgers made Sept. 18 to FBI Special Agent Michael Dudley.
In those statements, handwritten by Burgers, he said he received roughly $200,000 in loans from Global Ventures.
He admitted receiving loans on June 18, 1996, of $89,797.55, on Dec. 19, 1996, of $3,000, on March 26, 1997, of $103,000 and on Dec. 4, 1997, $5,000.
"I asked for these loans initially from Dave Logan, who sent me to Mike Morgan," Burgers wrote in his statement. "The loans constituted preferential treatment because I knew I could not get these loans anywhere else."
Alleged illegal activity dates back to early 1996 when Burgers learned of a potentially hazardous chemical spill being dumped at a Global Ventures hog facility.
Instead of notifying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Burgers advised Global Ventures to take care of the problem.
"...I heard rumors the bank and Global Ventures were involved in suspicious money transactions. I knew Dave Logan would see me as something of value and that he would know that I could make it tough or make it easy on Global Ventures. I expected for that reason Logan could help me get loans at Pipestone Bank," Burgers wrote.
"Dave Logan used me as his heads-up guy to tell him of potential problems."
Burgers said he always paid back or made payments on the loans, except the $5,000 loan. "I told Logan I needed $5,000 dollars. He said don't worry, we'll just get a little loan at the bank. One week later, Logan called and said the $5,000 was in my account and not to worry about the payments. I thought I would be paying the loan back later," Burgers wrote.
"Around a year later, Dave called and said Mike would meet me. Mike Morgan and I met at the Hardwick Corners. He gave me cash to pay on the $5,000 loan. Mike Morgan gave me cash two more times until the $5,000 loan was paid off."
Burgers' statement is marked by frequent expressions of remorse. "I knew at the time I should not have taken these monies. I knew these monies was for something job-related that I had done in the past for Global or for something they may want me to do in the future," he wrote.
"I took it anyway because I was in such a terrible financial position. I have never attempted to pay back the monies, nor has anyone asked me for the monies."
In filing the motion to suppress Burgers' statements, his attorney questions the "voluntariness" of his statements.
At the start of Burgers' written statement, however, he asserts, "I, John Burgers, make this statement freely and voluntarily with no threats or promises of any kind."
He also writes, "I regret very much that I got involved in the whole thing. My conscience and sleep have been very difficult ever since I received the preferential loans and the $5,000 cash. I know I did not have to make this statement, however, I wanted to clear the air and get all this off my chest."
Global Ventures was also charged with offering bribes, and both Burgers and Global Ventures entered not guilty pleas in October.