Bribery and Corruption Casebook: The View from Under the Table

CHAPTER 32

For Love or Money?

JOHN R. HOLLEY

Sandy Benedict, maiden name Lee, grew up in central Washington outside of Yakima and graduated from a local high school. Sandy had shoulder-length brown hair that she always kept neatly pinned up at the back of her head. She wore very little, if any, makeup most days because of her strict upbringing by her deeply religious parents. She had an uneventful childhood and was not a cause of concern for her parents through her teenage years.

Sandy’s first job was in a fast-food restaurant where she worked as a cashier. Although she enjoyed working with the public, she hated the long hours and the little pay that she received. Sandy was described by her family, friends and employers as being trustworthy and dependable. After high school she attended and graduated from a Seattle-area college, where she majored in business administration. She had several clerk jobs during her college days to help pay for her education.

Sandy met her husband, Ted Benedict, in college, where he was also studying as a business major. After their graduation from college, Ted became a pilot in the Air Force. Ted and Sandy got married after he graduated from flight school and was stationed at a base in Anchorage. In Alaska, Sandy took an entry-level position at one of the local title insurance agencies as an escrow assistant.

Sandy liked the work because it allowed her to interact with customers daily. She became very good at her job and developed an extensive list ...