CLEVELAND — A construction company secretary testified Friday she created false bills for work done for U.S. Rep. James Traficant in the 45 minutes before an FBI agent showed up with a subpoena.

        Sue Beegle, the former office manager at Honey Creek Contracting, said she generated the back-dated documents at the direction of David Sugar Sr., the company's owner.

        Mr. Traficant, a nine-term Democrat from northeast Ohio, is on trial in U.S. District Court on charges that he helped businessmen in exchange for gifts and free labor and took cash kickbacks and free labor from staff members. He is defending himself, although he's not a lawyer.

        Prosecutors allege that the invoices were faked to cover up free work Mr. Sugar's company did for Mr. Traficant.

        Mr. Traficant has acknowledged that he intervened to have Mr. Sugar's son serve a felony drunken driving sentence in a Youngstown halfway house instead of in Licking County, where he was convicted.

        FBI Agent Deane Hassman testified Friday that Honey Creek did thousands of dollars' worth of work for Mr. Traficant at his farm, but never billed him. Agent Hassman said he found in Honey Creek files a copy of a $1,100 check from Mr. Traficant, dated Dec. 23, 1999, but that it was unclear whether the money was meant as payment for services. Federal investigators issued a subpoena for Mr. Traficant's office documents that same month.

        Ms. Beegle said she produced several of the fake invoices on May 18, 2000, in the 45 minutes between Agent Hassman's call to Honey Creek saying he was bringing a subpoena and his arrival.

        She said the invoices had never been sent, even though she had noted by hand that bills had been mailed in 1999 or early 2000.

        “That's what I was told to put on there,” Ms. Beegle said.

        While cross-examining Agent Hassman, Mr. Traficant raised broad questions about the FBI's investigation of him.

        The agent said more than two dozen FBI agents played some role in the investigation.

        Mr. Traficant told reporters outside the courthouse that Agent Hassman's testimony proves the FBI was out to get him.

Fiorini case sets new bill in motion
Luken candid on racial divide
Crazy week gives cops action, OT
Investigation to move slowly
Freedom Center to open in red
Historic church gets a reprieve
Investigators hope sketch leads to killer
Residents upset at possibility of Convergys moving in
Roach hiring may go to court
Tristate A.M. Report
MCNUTT: Warren County
RADEL: 6 months later
SAMPLES: Crime victims
THOMPSON: Faith Matters
Citizens campaign to reunite mother dog, puppies
FBI warrant leads to standoff at Fairfield apartment
Volunteering is family tradition
Billing scheme detailed
Interest in evolution debate outgrows venue
Private foundations announce $31.5M grant
Erlanger man indicted in rape of Loveland teen-ager
Horse tracks' taxes may fall
Kentucky News Briefs
Panel OKs jailer as U.S. marshal
Robber hits Fort Mitchell bank, escapes in sedan
State may be ready to gamble
Suit over land price threatens Ky. package
Walton baseball field named for pro pitcher