'Not guilty' translates to relief
Throughout the entire Tampa housing scandal, Lori Horne maintained her innocence. A jury agreed and set her free.
By BRADY DENNIS
Published December 2, 2004
TAMPA - In a courtroom full of convictions, hers were tears of joy.
After hearing those magical words - "not guilty" - Lori Horne celebrated Tuesday evening with her husband at Charley's Steakhouse. She ordered escargot and crab legs and washed it down with white wine and relief.
"I'm not sure you can describe the feeling," she said. "Just overjoyed."
The University of South Florida credit union loan officer had been accused of conspiring with former Tampa housing chief Steve LaBrake and his wife, Lynne, in a public corruption scandal.
On Tuesday, the LaBrakes were convicted of more than 25 counts each: conspiracy, wire fraud and more than two dozen charges of accepting bribes and gratuities.
The jury also convicted Chester Luney, the former head of the Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan, a nonprofit charity that received many home building contracts from LaBrake's office.
But Horne, 41, was acquitted. In an interview Wednesday, she said she remained positive throughout.
"We had the truth on our side," she said.
She said she refused to entertain plea agreements that would have spared her the risk of a trial.
"It wasn't ever a consideration," Horne said. "I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. There was no other choice for me.
"I have children to worry about. It wouldn't have shown them the right way."
She declined to discuss the LaBrakes or her thoughts about their convictions, except to say, "I feel bad for anybody who has kids."
Regarding her charges, she stuck to what she has said all along: that she played by the rules in receiving loans to purchase and improve her modest Tampa home, including installing a swimming pool.
As for allegations she illegally helped the LaBrakes secure a $230,000 construction loan, she repeated that she didn't have final approval. Her boss, the credit union president, backed up that claim during the trial.
Horne said the past year has been wearisome. It started when authorities arrested and cuffed her as she showed up for work. Since then she had the specter of federal charges hanging over her. She'd lost her mother-in-law and her former mother-in-law, with whom she remained close.
She'd tried to maintain a normal life for her four children, ages 10 to 15, which meant avoiding the evening news and not leaving newspapers lying around.
In one day, in the simple reading of a verdict, everything got a bit easier.
After a year on administrative leave - she received benefits but no salary - Horne said she expects to return to her job as a loan officer.
"I love my job," she said. "I hope to retire there."
She said her co-workers e-mailed her Tuesday to remind her that another credit union softball season was approaching.
They told her "to get my cleats ready," Horne said.