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| Former Texas Prison Chief in Court |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/08/2001 |
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A meat substitute made in Canada that was once fed to Texas inmates is at the center of an alleged kickback scheme that has landed a former chief of the Texas prison system in court. James A. 'Andy' Collins, former executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, is accused of accepting kickbacks from VitaPro Foods Inc. to arrange for a $33.7 million contract to distribute the VitaPro soy product in Texas prisons. Prosecutors allege Collins accepted at least $20,000 from the head of the Montreal-based company, Yank Barry. Jury selection was scheduled to start Tuesday in the trial of the former prisons chief, who faces charges of bribery, fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. Barry faces the same charges. Both men have denied any wrongdoing. Each faces up to 70 years in prison and fines of up to $2 million if convicted on all counts. Collins' lawyers declined to make him available for interviews before trial. Federal prosecutors also declined to discuss the case. The state contracted with VitaPro in 1994 to use the meat substitute to save money on feeding inmates. By 1995, that contract grew from a five-figure purchase to the multimillion dollar, five-year deal. The contract was not put out for competitive bids, in what prosecutors say is a violation of state purchasing procedures. It also did not get prison board approval. Federal and state investigators looked into possible violations of competitive bidding laws soon after the deal was reached, when Collins resigned and accepted a job as a $1,000-a-day consultant for VitaPro. The state sued VitaPro, calling the contract illegal. Barry countersued, demanding payment after the state stopped accepting VitaPro shipments. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in December 1999 that the contracts were invalid and the state didn't have to pay. The meat substitute was unpopular among prisoners, and was suspected of causing health problems. It was eventually used to feed hogs at prison system farms. |
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