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| Ex-San Diego mayor admits stealing millions to fund gambling addiction | Ex-San Diego mayor admits stealing millions to fund gambling addiction |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The former mayor of San Diego has admitted taking $2.1m from her late husband's charitable foundation to fund a decade-long gambling habit during which the losses reached more than $1bn. | The former mayor of San Diego has admitted taking $2.1m from her late husband's charitable foundation to fund a decade-long gambling habit during which the losses reached more than $1bn. |
| Maureen O'Connor pleaded not guilty to a money-laundering charge in an agreement with the Justice Department that defers prosecution for two years while she tries to repay the foundation and receives treatment for gambling. | Maureen O'Connor pleaded not guilty to a money-laundering charge in an agreement with the Justice Department that defers prosecution for two years while she tries to repay the foundation and receives treatment for gambling. |
| She said it was connected to a brain tumor. "There are two Maureens – Maureen No 1 and Maureen No 2," O'Connor told a news conference. "Maureen No2 is the Maureen who did not know she had a tumor growing in her brain." The tumor was diagnosed in 2011. | She said it was connected to a brain tumor. "There are two Maureens – Maureen No 1 and Maureen No 2," O'Connor told a news conference. "Maureen No2 is the Maureen who did not know she had a tumor growing in her brain." The tumor was diagnosed in 2011. |
| O'Connor, 66, once had a personal fortune that her attorney estimated between $40m and $50m, inherited from her husband, Robert O Peterson, founder of the Jack in the Box fast-food chain. She is now virtually broke, living with a sister. | O'Connor, 66, once had a personal fortune that her attorney estimated between $40m and $50m, inherited from her husband, Robert O Peterson, founder of the Jack in the Box fast-food chain. She is now virtually broke, living with a sister. |
| She began gambling around 2001 as she struggled with pain and loneliness from the death of her husband from leukemia in 1994 and the death of several close friends, said her attorney, Eugene Iredale. He called it "grief gambling" in a court filing. | She began gambling around 2001 as she struggled with pain and loneliness from the death of her husband from leukemia in 1994 and the death of several close friends, said her attorney, Eugene Iredale. He called it "grief gambling" in a court filing. |
| O'Connor won about $1bn from 2000 to 2009, according to winnings that casinos reported to the Internal Revenue Service, but lost even more. | O'Connor won about $1bn from 2000 to 2009, according to winnings that casinos reported to the Internal Revenue Service, but lost even more. |
| The US attorney's office said O'Connor's medical condition influenced the decision to strike a deal, saying it may have been impossible to bring the case to trial. The tumor was removed, but doctors submitted letters detailing significant ailments. | The US attorney's office said O'Connor's medical condition influenced the decision to strike a deal, saying it may have been impossible to bring the case to trial. The tumor was removed, but doctors submitted letters detailing significant ailments. |
| "Maureen O'Connor was a selfless public official who contributed much to the well-being of San Diego," said US attorney Laura Duffy. "However, no figure, regardless of how much good they've done or how much they've given to charity, can escape criminal liability with impunity." | "Maureen O'Connor was a selfless public official who contributed much to the well-being of San Diego," said US attorney Laura Duffy. "However, no figure, regardless of how much good they've done or how much they've given to charity, can escape criminal liability with impunity." |
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