Houston oilman Oscar Wyatt will spend much of next year in his old hometown when he reports to a minimum security prison in Beaumont.
Wyatt, 83, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to a single count of conspiring to make illegal payments for Iraqi oil under the United Nations' Oil-for-Food program, is to report to prison by Jan. 2.
Beaumont, Wyatt's birthplace, is the closest minimum security federal prison to his Houston home. U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin recommended the facility to Bureau of Prison officials, who have the last word.
Wyatt, 83, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 1 to a single count of conspiring to make illegal payments for Iraqi oil under the United Nations' Oil-for-Food program, is to report to prison by Jan. 2.
Beaumont, Wyatt's birthplace, is the closest minimum security federal prison to his Houston home. U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin recommended the facility to Bureau of Prison officials, who have the last word.
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Reached at his Houston office Friday, Wyatt said he was prepared to serve the time.
"After spending two years in the Pacific in a tent, I don't think that will be a problem," he said, referring to his service as a military pilot during World War II.
But asked if the nearby Beaumont facility was his first choice, Wyatt replied, "My first choice would have been to be probated."
The founder of Houston-based Coastal Corp., which is now owned by El Paso Corp., Wyatt was accused of funneling millions in illegal surcharges to Saddam Hussein's regime to buy Iraqi oil under the Oil-for-Food program.
The program was developed while Iraq was under international sanctions because of Saddam's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. It was intended to use Iraq's oil resources to provide much-needed food and medicine for the Iraqi populace while keeping the proceeds out of the hands of the regime.
Prosecutors said Wyatt used front companies to buy Iraqi oil and pay the surcharges into a bank account secretly controlled by the Iraqi government.
Wyatt was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and violating U.S. laws governing dealings with Iraq.
Three weeks into his trial, he pleaded guilty as prosecutors were poised to zero in on a $200,000 surcharge payment in 2001. In his guilty plea, Wyatt acknowledged orchestrating that payment.
Wyatt already has forfeited $11 million as part of his plea agreement.
The Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex consists of three facilities — a low-, medium- and high-security prison. The high-security facility also has a satellite for minimum security inmates, which is where Wyatt is expected to report, said Wyatt attorney Gerald Shargel of New York. It houses about 500 inmates, according to the Bureau of Prison Web site.
Moved by an avalanche of support from Wyatt admirers, Chin ordered Wyatt to serve six months less than the low end of a sentencing range of 18 to 24 months that the defense and government agreed was appropriate under federal sentencing guidelines.
In fact, Wyatt isn't likely to serve a full year. He could have 47 days shaved off his sentence for good conduct, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman told the Chronicle soon after the sentencing. And the last 30 days could be spent in a halfway house.
That means Wyatt could be home for Thanksgiving next year.
Wyatt's wife, Lynn, said Friday the family was thrilled that he was assigned to a prison nearby.
"I certainly am grateful he will be close enough so the family can come and see him," she said.
The Wyatts are expecting family in town for the holidays but have not yet decided if they will stay in Houston or spend time at their South Texas ranch, Lynn Wyatt said.
"We're leaving it up to Oscar, whatever he feels like doing," she said. "We had all of the family together for Thanksgiving, including the grandchildren, so to me that was our Christmas."
"After spending two years in the Pacific in a tent, I don't think that will be a problem," he said, referring to his service as a military pilot during World War II.
But asked if the nearby Beaumont facility was his first choice, Wyatt replied, "My first choice would have been to be probated."
The founder of Houston-based Coastal Corp., which is now owned by El Paso Corp., Wyatt was accused of funneling millions in illegal surcharges to Saddam Hussein's regime to buy Iraqi oil under the Oil-for-Food program.
The program was developed while Iraq was under international sanctions because of Saddam's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. It was intended to use Iraq's oil resources to provide much-needed food and medicine for the Iraqi populace while keeping the proceeds out of the hands of the regime.
Prosecutors said Wyatt used front companies to buy Iraqi oil and pay the surcharges into a bank account secretly controlled by the Iraqi government.
Wyatt was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and violating U.S. laws governing dealings with Iraq.
Three weeks into his trial, he pleaded guilty as prosecutors were poised to zero in on a $200,000 surcharge payment in 2001. In his guilty plea, Wyatt acknowledged orchestrating that payment.
Wyatt already has forfeited $11 million as part of his plea agreement.
The Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex consists of three facilities — a low-, medium- and high-security prison. The high-security facility also has a satellite for minimum security inmates, which is where Wyatt is expected to report, said Wyatt attorney Gerald Shargel of New York. It houses about 500 inmates, according to the Bureau of Prison Web site.
Wyatt's sentence could have been longer.
Moved by an avalanche of support from Wyatt admirers, Chin ordered Wyatt to serve six months less than the low end of a sentencing range of 18 to 24 months that the defense and government agreed was appropriate under federal sentencing guidelines.
In fact, Wyatt isn't likely to serve a full year. He could have 47 days shaved off his sentence for good conduct, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman told the Chronicle soon after the sentencing. And the last 30 days could be spent in a halfway house.
That means Wyatt could be home for Thanksgiving next year.
Wyatt's wife, Lynn, said Friday the family was thrilled that he was assigned to a prison nearby.
"I certainly am grateful he will be close enough so the family can come and see him," she said.
The Wyatts are expecting family in town for the holidays but have not yet decided if they will stay in Houston or spend time at their South Texas ranch, Lynn Wyatt said.
"We're leaving it up to Oscar, whatever he feels like doing," she said. "We had all of the family together for Thanksgiving, including the grandchildren, so to me that was our Christmas."
Via: Houston Chronicle| By TOM FOWLER
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