Gibbons”07 legal defense funds: $256,000

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons drew in nearly $256,000 last year, including a $61,000 personal loan, in a defense fund he established to respond to several legal matters, according to reports filed with the secretary of state's office.

The reports show that Gibbons has spent the money primarily for representation from different legal firms.

Some of the donations to the fund include $10,000 from the Palms and $40,000 from various companies connected to Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chief Executive Sheldon Adelson.

The reports, for the 2007 calendar year, show that $60,000 was paid to the law firm of Chadbourne & Parke in Washington, D.C. Another law firm, McDermott Will & Emery, also in Washington, D.C., has been paid about $111,000.

The next reporting date for contributions to and expenses from the fund is Aug. 5.

The contributions and expenses come from two different funds, including one that was dissolved. The new fund is based on a new law addressing the creation of legal defense funds.

Some of the governor's legal issue are ongoing.

The July 2 filing creating the second defense fund listed several potential legal matters the donations could be used for, including an FBI/grand jury investigation into dealings with Warren Trepp and eTreppid Technologies and allegations that Gibbons helped secure defense contracts in exchange for gifts and money.

Gibbons has denied any wrongdoing, as has Trepp.

Also listed was a civil case in U.S. District Court pitting eTreppid Technologies against former eTreppid software designer Dennis Montgomery. The case is ongoing in U.S. District Court in Reno.

Montgomery claims he was cheated out of funds by eTreppid, while the Reno-based defense contractor accuses Montgomery of stealing the source code for the valuable technology.

Also included on the list are three other matters:

• An investigation into whether the Sierra Nevada Corporation hired Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons as a consultant and paid her $35,000 at the same time Gibbons helped the company get a no-bid federal contract.

• The investigation into the allegation that Jim Gibbons assaulted a Las Vegas waitress

• Claims that Gibbons employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny.

The Clark County district attorney's office in February 2007 closed the investigation into the Oct. 13, 2006 incident involving Gibbons and cocktail waitress Chrissy Mazzeo.