Feds indict 3 for Ike cleanup fraud

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) - A former Liberty County judge is among three men indicted on federal charges accusing them of conspiring to fraudulently pocket Hurricane Ike cleanup money.

Federal prosecutors Friday named 51-year-old former judge Phil Fitzgerald, 62-year-old former county commissioner Lee Groce of Cleveland and 52-year-old Mark Miksch of LaVernia in a 25-count indictment. Miksch is Fitzgerald's brother-in-law.

Ike slammed southeast Texas in September 2008.

The indictment alleges Fitzgerald got about $611,000 in kickbacks and that he and Groce conspired to award $3.2 million in debris removal work linked to Miksch.

Fitzgerald also is accused of using a generator bought with federal money for county use to keep his convenience store business running while the power was out elsewhere.

Fitzgerald's attorney denies wrongdoing. The three are to appear in federal court next week.