Ex-commissioner Kenny finishes sentence for accepting bribes

Former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny ended her relationship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons today and began a new one with a U.S. probation officer.

Kenny, who went to prison in October 2007 for her role in a far-reaching corruption case, was officially released from her prison sentence today after spending more than two months on home confinement. The U.S. Probation Office will supervise her for the next three years.

“Life moves on,” said Daniel Bogden, the U.S. attorney for Nevada. “I wish her well. I hope she has made the most of her time and experience.”

Kenny, 48, could not be reached for comment. Her attorney, Frank Cremen, said he had not spoken with her recently.

The former county commissioner was the prosecution’s star witness in a political corruption case that led to convictions of three former commissioners. She admitted accepting cash bribes while in office from then-strip club owner Michael Galardi and several developers.

After Kenny left office, she was hired as a consultant by developer Jim Rhodes, who paid her $200,000 a year. Rhodes could not be reached for comment Friday.

Kenny began cooperating with authorities immediately after a federal grand jury indicted her in 2003. Also indicted were Galardi and former Clark County commissioners Dario Herrera, Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Lance Malone.

Galardi and Kenny both testified against their co-defendants at the 2006 trial. Kenny, a mother of five, received a 30-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud charges. She finished her time at a federal prison camp in Arizona before being released in August to a halfway house in Las Vegas.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said Kenny began her home confinement Oct. 1 and was released Friday.

Deputy Chief Probation Officer Pat Foy said Kenny lives in Las Vegas and will be supervised by a probation officer in the local office.

According to the judgment in her case, Kenny must submit to one drug test within 15 days of starting her supervised release “and at least two periodic drugs tests thereafter.” Kenny is also prohibited from possessing firearms.

Other conditions of supervision prohibit Kenny from leaving Nevada without permission and require her to submit written reports to her probation officer each month. She also must refrain “from excessive use of alcohol” and permit a probation officer to visit her “at any time at home or elsewhere.”

Herrera, who received a 50-month prison term for accepting bribes from Galardi, completed his sentence Monday, when he was released from home confinement.

Galardi and Kincaid-Chauncey both were sentenced to 30 months in prison. Only Malone, the bagman between his former colleagues and Galardi, remains in custody. He is serving a six-year prison term and is scheduled for release in July 2012.

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