Current:Home > MarketsImpeached Kentucky prosecutor indicted on fraud, bribery charges in nude pictures case -TradeWisdom
Impeached Kentucky prosecutor indicted on fraud, bribery charges in nude pictures case
View
Date:2025-04-16 00:41:15
A federal grand jury indicted a former elected Kentucky prosecutor on fraud and bribery charges after he was impeached for trading favors with a defendant in exchange for nude images of her.
Ronnie Goldy Jr., 51, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of honest services wire fraud, six counts of using an interstate communication to commit bribery and two counts of federal program bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The indictment alleges that between November 2017 and November 2020, Goldy used his position as commonwealth’s attorney to solicit and accept sexual favors and sexually explicit images as bribes. In return, Goldy “made decisions in criminal cases that benefited this defendant and pressured other officials to do the same,” the U.S. attorney’s office said, such as seeking the defendant’s release from incarceration, asking for withdrawal of arrest warrants, requesting a court hearing be postponed and asking another prosecutor to sign an order to release the defendant’s impounded property.
Messages reveal murky exchanges between Goldy and woman
In 230 pages of messages from 2018 to 2020 obtained last year by The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, Goldy told Misty Helton that if she sent him nude images, he would talk to judges about continuing her cases and setting aside warrants.
One such exchange occurred on Aug. 23, 2018, when Helton told Goldy a judge in Montgomery County was poised to jail her the next day for six months for failing to pay a fine.
Goldy replied: “I’m still waiting on those videos remember lol. I can see what I can do. What time is court?”
Over the three-year period, Helton was charged with nine misdemeanors and three felonies in Goldy's circuit for offenses such as identity theft, assault, writing bad checks and possession of a controlled substance.
Goldy impeached in historic Kentucky Senate trial
After the first impeachment trial on the floor of the Kentucky Senate in 135 years, Goldy was convicted in March on three articles of impeachment, barring him from holding elected office in the state.
The vote to convict Goldy was unanimous on all three articles, as was the vote to sustain the judgment that Goldy should be barred from holding a future office — with the trial and vote taking less than 30 minutes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the probe into Goldy before the indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. FBI spokesman Tim Beam confirmed Goldy was taken into custody Friday.
Louisville attorney Thomas Clay, who helped expose Goldy’s relationship with Helton, said that additional people may be under investigation. Another lawyer, Tim Denison, who has represented Goldy, did not respond to an email message Friday.
Under the federal crime known as Honest Services fraud, it is a crime to misuse an individual's position or authority for personal gain or advantage.
Goldy is being held in Woodford County Detention Center, according to jail records. He is scheduled for his initial appearance Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
veryGood! (91)
Related
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Police close pro-Palestinian encampment at USC; UCLA creates new campus safety office: Updates
- Dallas Stars knock out defending champion Vegas Golden Knights with Game 7 win
- Billie Eilish, Zendaya, Kylie Jenner and More Stars' First Met Gala Appearances Are a Blast From the Past
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Hospital operator Steward Health Care files for bankruptcy protection
- Trump Media fires auditing firm that US regulators have charged with ‘massive fraud’
- Massachusetts detective's affair exposed during investigation into his wife's shooting death
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Calling All Sleeping Beauties, Reawaken Your Fashion With Pajamas So Chic You Can Wear Them as Outfits
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Prosecutors move deeper into Trump’s orbit as testimony in hush money trial enters a third week
- These Kardashian-Jenner Met Gala Looks From Over the Years Are Amazing, Sweetie
- Tom Brady Gets Roasted With Jaw-Dropping NSFW Jokes Over Gisele Bündchen’s New Romance
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Gen V Reveals Plan for Chance Perdomo’s Character After His Sudden Death
- You Won't Regret Shopping These Hidden Free People Deals Which Are Up To 56% Off
- Frank Stella, artist known for his pioneering work in minimalism, dies at 87
Recommendation
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Anna Wintour Holds Court at the 2024 Met Gala in a Timeless Silhouette
5 years after federal suit, North Carolina voter ID trial set to begin
Billie Eilish, Zendaya, Kylie Jenner and More Stars' First Met Gala Appearances Are a Blast From the Past
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Aaron Hernandez's Fiancée Shayanna Jenkins Slams Cruel Tom Brady Roast Jokes About Late NFL Star
The Bachelorette's Desiree Hartsock Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Husband Chris Siegfried
Milwaukee election leader ousted 6 months before election in presidential swing state