Former rep asks judge for passport

Former state representative Nathan Cooper, free on bond pending sentencing on immigration charges, on Wednesday asked U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton for permission to take a two-week trip to the Philippines.

Hamilton did not rule on the request, but Cooper's attorney said government opposition to the request will kill it.

In a document filed Wednesday, Cooper sought the return of his passport, which he had surrendered as a condition of his bond on two felony counts of federal immigration fraud. In the filing, Cooper's attorney, Joel Schwartz, said he had discussed the trip with assistant federal prosecutor Jim Crowe, who is handling the case for the government, and that Crowe had taken no stand on the request.

That wasn't correct and resulted from a misunderstanding, said Crowe, who filed a motion opposing the request in the afternoon.

In a short interview, Schwartz said government opposition would prevent the trip. "It is not going to happen," he said.

Crowe said Schwartz had mistaken his stance following a discussion of numerous issues related to the case. Crowe said he wasn't sure about the nature of the trip. "My sense is he was going to do some immigration business."

Cooper, a Republican, pleaded guilty Aug. 9 to helping two clients of his law practice obtain temporary worker visas for foreign truck drivers to work in the United States. He resigned his legislative seat Aug. 14, and his license to practice law has been suspended by the Missouri Supreme Court.

In one of the two counts, Cooper is charged with purchasing 110 temporary worker visas from Philippine-born U.S. citizen Omega Paulite, who also faces immigration charges.

Cooper did not return calls seeking comment.

In the motion filed with the court, Cooper described his proposed voyage as a business trip on behalf of Business Improvement Solutions LLC, a company he created in April. Cooper's connection with the company was not mentioned in the court filing. Cooper's partner in the company said he wasn't aware Cooper was planning the trip.

"He organized the company for us a few months ago," said Ronald Randen of Gideon, Mo. "It never really got started. It was just in a dormant mode."

Any trip would have been at Cooper's expense, Randen said. "There is no money in the company till."

Despite the lack of funds, the company, which on its Web site lists its address as 1917 William St. -- the same address as Cooper's law firm -- Business Improvement Solutions made a $420 contribution to Cooper's re-election campaign July 16. The address listed for the contribution was Randen's home.

"That money we just put in" to make the donation, Randen said.

Randen said he's known Cooper for about six years. In 2006, Randen's wife, Donna Randen, contributed $650 to Cooper's re-election.

Cooper apparently is traveling while awaiting his Oct. 19 sentencing. The Arch City Chronicle Web site reported Wednesday that Cooper was in New Orleans over the weekend attending a Council of State Governments forum.

Federal policies generally restrict defendants' travel in the United States, Crowe said. "Normally in these kinds of cases they need permission to do that from their pretrial services officer," Crowe said. He was unsure whether Cooper obtained the necessary permission.

Cooper's court filing included a detailed itinerary. He was to depart St. Louis at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 13, then spend two days in Manila at the Oxford Suites Hotel, which describes itself on the its Web site as "one of the finest hotels in Manila in Philippines."

Cooper then planned to travel to Davao City for a weeklong stay at the Casa Leticia, which calls itself "a statement of elegance and class we offer the ultimate in service that every business person on the go deserves."

In Manila again Sept. 24, Cooper planned to stay at the Hotel Sulo, which calls itself "one of the prestigious accommodations of the city which provides the guests with ultimate comfort and luxury."

Cooper would have returned to Missouri on Sept. 27.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126