Ex-commisioner Malone completes prison term

Former Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone took another step toward freedom Friday when he severed his ties with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The day marked the official end of his custodial sentence, but that doesn't mean he will entirely regain his liberty.

"He (was) released from his term of confinement and is beginning his three-year term of supervised release," said John McCafferty, spokesman for the bureau's western regional office.

Malone, who received a six-year prison term for his role in a federal corruption case, was released from a facility in Lompoc, Calif., on Feb. 1, and began residing at a halfway house in Las Vegas.

Of the four former Clark County commissioners who went to prison for their roles in the case, Malone received the longest sentence and was the last to be released.

For the next three years, he must answer to a U.S. probation officer.

Malone began serving his sentence in May 2007 for delivering bribes to former commission colleagues on behalf of strip club owner Michael Galardi.

U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks, convinced that Malone had helped orchestrate "the rankest corruption of local government" in state history, had imposed the sentence three months earlier. The judge also ordered Malone to pay a $100,000 fine.

Records show that Malone, 49, knocked time off his sentence by completing a drug abuse treatment program.

Attempts to reach Malone this week through third parties, including defense attorney Dominic Gentile, were unsuccessful. In March, Gentile said Malone was parking cars in Las Vegas and trying to rebuild his life.

"He's very happy to be spending a life out of the limelight," the attorney said at the time.

Gentile said Malone, who is divorced, had a lot of catching up to do with his two sons. Gentile also said Malone emerged from prison "in phenomenal condition" and "at peace."

"He's real happy to just be John Q. Citizen right now," the attorney said.

Galardi and Malone were indicted in 2003 with former Commissioners Erin Kenny, Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey.

Malone signed a plea agreement in September 2006 acknowledging that he paid cash bribes to Kenny, Herrera and Kincaid-Chauncey in exchange for votes favoring Galardi's business empire.

Hicks said Malone facilitated Galardi's corrupt enterprise because he recruited the commissioners to become part of the bribery scheme.

"There is no doubt that the leader was Michael Galardi, and he was in control by virtue of the cash he had so readily available to him," the judge said. "The fact is he couldn't have done what he did without someone like Lance Malone."

Hicks said he thought Malone, a former Las Vegas police officer, also was corrupt during his 1996-2000 stint on the commission.

At the sentencing hearing, Malone addressed the judge and explained his decision to work for Galardi.

"I did start out with good intentions, but those good intentions turned horribly, horribly wrong," Malone said. "I was confronted with something I've never been confronted with before, and that was greed."

A San Diego jury found Malone guilty in a parallel corruption case in 2005. He received a concurrent, three-year sentence in that case. Kenny and Galardi both pleaded guilty and cooperated with the government. Galardi admitted bribing politicians in both Las Vegas and San Diego.

A Las Vegas jury convicted Herrera and Kincaid-Chauncey in May 2006 of pocketing bribes offered by Malone. Kenny received a 30-month prison sentence. Herrera received a 50-month prison term. Galardi and Kincaid-Chauncey each were sentenced to 30 months in prison.

While on supervised release, Malone must submit to drug tests and "cooperate in the collection of DNA as directed by the probation officer," according to court records.

He may not leave Nevada without permission, and he must "refrain from excessive use of alcohol." Malone also must submit to the warrantless search of "his person, property, residence, or automobile under his control" by the probation officer "to ensure compliance with all conditions of release."

Also, Malone is barred from possessing any firearms or other "dangerous weapons." Violations of any of these provisions could lead to a return to prison.

Also, Malone's status as a felon prevents him from running for office again.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@review journal.com or 702-384-8710.