Former Poway Resident Convicted of Bribery Facing Prison Time

The downfall of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham began in 2005 when it was revealed that he sold his Del Mar home to defense contractor Mitchell Wade at an inflated price.

Wade wasn’t the only one who got in hot water for bribing Cunningham.

Former Poway resident Brent Wilkes was convicted of bribing the congressman with more than $2 million in cash and other items, with Wilkes being paid back with defense contracts.

Cunningham was sentenced to more than eight years in prison in 2006, and Wilkes was sentenced to 12 years in 2007. He was released from prison in 2009 on bail while appealing his convictions, but may soon be heading back.

Read the full report on Wilkes on U-T San Diego.

While Wilkes may be headed back to prison, Cunningham is preparing for life after the penitentiary. He recently wrote a letter to the sentencing judge requesting restoration of his “second amendment rights so I can earn a little money so I can eat.”

The rambling letter written in all capital letters said that Cunningham is scheduled to enter a halfway house in December, and he plans on living in a small cabin by a lake where he will write books, “away from the Union Tribune.”

Cunningham argues that he should be able to legally own firearms due to the non-violent nature of his crimes, and he will use the weapons for hunting and competition.

Judge Larry Burns wrote back to Cunningham, telling him that he does not have the authority to restore Cunningham’s access to firearms. While Cunningham can apply to have the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms lift the ban, Burns noted that Congress hasn’t provided funds to the ATF to review applications since 1992.

“So unless Congress changes course and decides to fund ATF’s review of applications for relief, it appears you are stuck,” Burns wrote.

Click on the PDF files to the right for copies of their correspondence.