Page   12   thursdoy, Dec. 13. 1984 Bremerton. Wash.    The   Sun
Three convicted in 'Gamscam' trial
adjusting to life at home after prison
TACOMA (AP) — Six months
after being released from prison, the three men convicted in
the so-called "Gamscam" case
are putting; their lives back
together an<d looking forward to
the first Christmas with their
families in three years.
Gordon Walgren, 51, of Bremerton, who was Senate majority
leader when arrested, does
some political consulting,
watches nfter real estate he
owns andi pursues his lawsuits
against the federal government. Walgren is also trying to
regain f;he right to practice
law.
John Bagnariol, 52, who was
speaker of the state House of
Representatives when arrested
by the JFBI in 1980, has opened
an Italian restaurant and hopes
to regain his license to sell
insurance.
Pat Gallagher, 53, a legislative lob'byist at the time of his
arrest, 'works on advertising for
a groujpp of property developers.
The 'trio was released from
Lompoc Federal Correctional
Institution in May after serving
two ye;ars on charges of conspiring, to use their influence to
bring casino gambling into
Wash ington State.
FB.'l agents testified at their
trial that the trio agreed to
push casino gambling operations through the Legislature
for a 'percentage of the profits.
Of !:he three, only Walgren is
closfj to the political picture
toda y.
In the last election he advised
candidates, helped in their
campaigns, and is "not closing
the door" on a return to a
political career. He goes to
Olympia often.
B.^ignariol attended one Dem-
insurance agent, but I haven't
heard from the insurance commissioner's office yet," he said.
"I do the bookwork and the
things I can do legally without
my license. There are a lot of
things to dd around an insurance office."
Bagnariol said he thought he
was taking a chance by putting
his name on the restaurant
after his time in prison, "but
the reception I've received has
been excellent. It's very warm.
"I went to a Democratic Party fund-raising party at Longa-
cres, wondering how people
would greet me, and everyone
seemed to come up and say
'Hi.' I got a very warm feeling
from that."
Gallagher said he is "back in
reality, working for some people who build shopping malls
and shopping centers. I deal
with the people who sell the
space and create ad programs.
"I train staff to design ads,
and work with personnel. I've
done this sort of thing all my
life."
Gallagher said he got his job
just one week after leaving
prison "so I haven't had a
chance to goof off yet. I'm
concentrating on getting my
two kids through school."
He said he was surprised to
see that so little had changed in
the world since he went to
prison. He occasionally makes
speeches at service clubs and
other meetings about his experiences in prison.
"It doesn't even seem that
we've been gone at all," he
said. "Everyone's been fantastic. They made it so easy to slip
back into my life.
"Lobbying at the Legislature
seems a million years awaj'. I
©era tie-party iwM&aa-aM.waJS.^^ I like
we'll received. He says he has
no plans to return to the political! arena, but occasionally
go<j;3 to Olympia to visit politi-
ca.'l friends.
G allagher says he is satisfied
working in a new advertising
career, even though he lives in
Olympia where the action is.
All three have returned to a
no'rmal life.
"I'm doing a little consulting
work for a variety of people,"
sb id Walgren. "Primarily, they
have been political consultations. I give them my expertise
on what goes on in the Legislature.
"I'll be going down during
the (coming legislative) session. After all, I still have a lot
of interest in some of the things
f;hat happen down there."
Walgren said he spends a
little time on his property investments, though there are not
a great many.
Walgren said he is spending
most of his time on his lawsuit
against the federal government, filed two years ago while
he was in prison. The suit,
alleging violation of his civil
rights by the government's
sting operation, asks $9 million
damages. While he would like a
monetary settlement, Walgren
said he wants mostly to clear
his name.
He wants to regain the right
to practice law, too.
"I have a reinstatement
hearing pending Dec. 17 before
the board of governors of the
Washington State Bar Association," he said. "I am very
hopeful they will approve my
petition for reinstatment."
Bagnariol, who lives in Ren-
ton, is almost totally absorbed
in his new and thriving restaurant business.
"We opened our restaurant —
Bagnariol's Vineyard Inn — in
Renton on the last Wednesday
of November. We have done a
gangbuster of a business — full
house every night," he said.
Bagnariol said he is still helping manage the family insurance office, which is run by his
wife. "I've passed all the exams to be  reinstated as an
to sell. I'm an ad man and
salesman at heart. I have found
this life much more satisfying
than the fast lane."
Hits 2 million
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