MUR #7221

RESPONDENTS: MEPCO HOLDINGS, LLC; Grimm, Eric; Hughes, Karen; Laurita, James; Lindsay, Kent; Longview Intermediate Holdings C, LLC; Mepco, LLC; O'Dell, Kevin; Osborn, Brian; Polce, Steve; Stecher, Christopher; Usery, Richard

COMPLAINANT:

SUBJECT: Contributions-Limitations; Contributions-In the name of another

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 4-0 to take the following actions in MUR 7221: 1. Accept the signed conciliation agreements with Mepco Holdings,LLC, and Mepco, LLC; Karen Hughes; and James Laurita, Jr., as recommended in the Memorandum from the Acting General Counsel dated May 20, 2019. 2. Approve the appropriate letters. 3. Close the file.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-2 to: a. Find reason to believe that James Laurita, Jr. and Karen Hughes knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116. b. Enter into conciliation with Mepco Holdings, LLC, Mepco, LLC, James Laurita, Jr., and Karen Hughes prior to a finding of probable cause to believe. c. Approve the Conciliation Agreements for Mepco Holdings, LLC and Mepco, LLC, as recommended in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019. d. Direct the Office of General Counsel to update the Factual and Legal Analysis included in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019, for James Laurita, Jr. and Karen Hughes . . . REDACTED . . . . e. Direct the Office of General Counsel to update the Proposed Conciliation Agreements for James Laurita, Jr. and Karen Hughes, included in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019, . . . REDACTED . . . . f. Take no further action and close the file as to Kevin O’Dell, Brian Osborn, Steven Polce, Richard Usery, Eric Grimm, Kent Lindsay, and Christopher Stecher. g. Take no action and close the file as to Longview Intermediate Holdings C, LLC. h. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-0 to: a. Find reason to believe that James Laurita, Jr. violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116. b. Enter into conciliation with Mepco Holdings, LLC, Mepco, LLC, James Laurita, Jr., and Karen Hughes prior to a finding of probable cause to believe. c. Approve the Conciliation Agreements recommended in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019, except that with respect to the Conciliation Agreement for Karen Hughes, . . . REDACTED . . . . d. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis for James Laurita, Jr., as recommended in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019. e. Take no further action and close the file as to Kevin O’Dell, Brian Osborn, Steven Polce, Richard Usery, Eric Grimm, Kent Lindsay, and Christopher Stecher. f. Take no action and close the file as to Longview Intermediate Holdings C, LLC. g. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-2 to: a. Find reason to believe that James Laurita, Jr. violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116. b. Enter into conciliation with Mepco Holdings, LLC, Mepco, LLC, James Laurita, Jr., and Karen Hughes prior to a finding of probable cause to believe. c. Approve the Conciliation Agreements recommended in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019. d. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis for James Laurita, Jr., as recommended in the Third General Counsel’s Report dated March 5, 2019. e. Take no further action and close the file as to Kevin O’Dell, Brian Osborn, Steven Polce, Richard Usery, Eric Grimm, Kent Lindsay, and Christopher Stecher. f. Take no action and close the file as to Longview Intermediate Holdings C, LLC. g. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to hold MUR 7221 in abeyance for a period of 90 days, or until the conclusion of the related criminal trial of James Laurita, Jr., whichever comes first, contingent upon each Respondent entering into an agreement to toll the statute of limitations for the duration of the abatement, as recommended in the Memorandum from the Acting General Counsel dated January 16, 2018.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to: a. Open a Matter Under Review. b. Find reason to believe that Mepco Holdings, LLC; Mepco, LLC; R. Kevin O’Dell, Brian M. Osborn, Steven B. Polce, and Richard R. Usery violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441f). c. Find reason to believe that Mepco Holdings, LLC and Mepco, LLC violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a)). d. Find reason to believe that James Laurita, Jr. and Karen Hughes knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441f). e. Direct the Office of General Counsel revise the Factual and Legal Analysis to reflect the alteration in the Commission’s approval of recommendations, . . . REDACTED . . . . f. Authorize the use of compulsory process. g. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-3 to: a. Open a Matter Under Review. b. Find reason to believe that Mepco Holdings, LLC; Mepco, LLC; James Laurita, Jr.; Karen Hughes; R. Kevin O’Dell, Brian M. Osborn, Steven B. Polce, and Richard R. Usery knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441f). c. Find reason to believe that Mepco Holdings, LLC and Mepco, LLC knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a)). d. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated October 17, 2014. e. Authorize the use of compulsory process. f. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to: a. Find reason to believe that Eric Grimm, Kent Lindsay, and Christopher Stecher violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441f). b. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the Second General Counsel’s Report dated April 2, 2015, with appropriate edits by the Office of General Counsel . . . REDACTED . . . . c. Authorize the use of compulsory process. d. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-3 to: a. Find reason to believe that Eric Grimm, Kent Lindsay, and Christopher Stecher knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441f). b. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the Second General Counsel’s Report dated April 2, 2015. c. Authorize the use of compulsory process. d. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-0 to: 1. Open a Matter Under Review. 2. Find reason to believe that Mepco Holdings, LLC; Mepco, LLC; James Laurita, Jr.; Karen Hughes; R. Kevin O’Dell, Brian M. Osborn, Steven B. Polce, and Richard R. Usery knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30122 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441f). 3. Find reason to believe that Mepco Holdings, LLC and Mepco, LLC knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116 (formerly 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a)). 4. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated October 17, 2014. 5. Authorize the use of compulsory process. 6. Approve the appropriate letters.