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Former state computer chief fined for ethics violations

E-mail|Link|Comments () December 10, 2009 04:04 PM

By Globe Staff

The former acting head of the state government's computer department has agreed to pay a $3,000 penalty for violating the state conflict of interest law by asking a computer company seeking a state contract to help sponsor a golf outing.

Bethann Pepoli, the former acting chief information officer at the state's Information Technology Division, solicited the $1,300 sponsorship from Cognos Corp., which was seeking a $15 million contract, the State Ethics Commission said today.

"Public employees may not solicit private benefits for themselves or others from people or companies with whom they have official business dealings," said Ethics Commission Executive Director Karen L. Nober.

"These situations are inherently exploitable," Nober said in a statement.

Behind-the-scenes efforts to win the contract for Cognos have generated controversy -- and led to criminal charges for a former top legislative leader.

Former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi; Richard Vitale, his friend and former financial adviser; Richard McDonough, a former Cognos lobbyist; and Joseph Lally, an independent sales agent for the company; are facing federal charges that they schemed to steer that contract and another to the company. Federal authorities have said no one else would be charged in the case.