CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Although he's headed for a landslide victory Tuesday, Gov. Joe Manchin was undoubtedly displeased to learn last week that federal authorities are investigating allegations of wrongdoing in his administration, with the subpoena (or subpoenas) of the Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.

Here's what I've been able to gather: Apparently, the investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charleston goes right to the top, and is focused on five individuals: Commissioner Dallas Staples, former Charleston police chief; deputy commissioner Keith Wagner, a former state senator from McDowell County; region 2 enforcement director John Duncan; Danny Cantley; and Fred Wooton, who also works full-time as a Beckley firefighter. He's also the brother of former state senator and current House of Delegates candidate Bill Wooton.

Duncan was one of the ABCA officials reprimanded in 2007 for transporting liquor in an ABCA vehicle to former Lincoln County clerk Greg Stowers' homecoming party following his release from federal prison.

The allegations include, as previously reported, gifts to ABCA officials from liquor distributors in exchange for favorable positioning and promotion of their brands.

Allegedly, the consideration ranges in scale from being allowed to commandeer opened bottles of liquor after trade shows for ABCA retailers to gifts of thoroughbred horses.

Distributors at the trade shows also allegedly frequently provide ABCA officials with dinners, golf outings and the like, in violation of state ethics law.

There are also allegations of gifts and favoritism in awarding beer and liquor licenses. While liquor licenses are valuable commodities, they are particularly valuable since any retailer who wants to operate lucrative limited video lottery machines must first have a beer or liquor license - even if the owner does not intend to serve alcoholic beverages at the location.

There are also allegations that certain inspectors play favorites with certain bars and clubs that repeatedly get warning letters instead of fines for violations.

While there had been rumblings of problems at ABCA, including severe employee morale issues, this comes as a surprise. I've known Staples and Wagner for some time and thought of them as having impeccable character.

It occurred to me, though, that if a liquor distributor provides gifts or travel, etc., to an ABCA official in hopes of getting better promotion and placement of their products, that's potentially a criminal offense.

However, if a pharmaceutical manufacturer provides gifts or travel to a physician in hopes of getting that physician to prescribe the company's brand-name drug, that's simply considered a cost of doing business.

Speaking of the Lottery, it's been more than a year since Director John Musgrave was granted a stay of a U.S. District Court order that would allow bars and clubs with limited video lottery to advertise.

Here's what I've been able to gather: Apparently, the investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charleston goes right to the top, and is focused on five individuals: Commissioner Dallas Staples, former Charleston police chief; deputy commissioner Keith Wagner, a former state senator from McDowell County; region 2 enforcement director John Duncan; Danny Cantley; and Fred Wooton, who also works full-time as a Beckley firefighter. He's also the brother of former state senator and current House of Delegates candidate Bill Wooton.

Duncan was one of the ABCA officials reprimanded in 2007 for transporting liquor in an ABCA vehicle to former Lincoln County clerk Greg Stowers' homecoming party following his release from federal prison.

The allegations include, as previously reported, gifts to ABCA officials from liquor distributors in exchange for favorable positioning and promotion of their brands.

Allegedly, the consideration ranges in scale from being allowed to commandeer opened bottles of liquor after trade shows for ABCA retailers to gifts of thoroughbred horses.

Distributors at the trade shows also allegedly frequently provide ABCA officials with dinners, golf outings and the like, in violation of state ethics law.

There are also allegations of gifts and favoritism in awarding beer and liquor licenses. While liquor licenses are valuable commodities, they are particularly valuable since any retailer who wants to operate lucrative limited video lottery machines must first have a beer or liquor license - even if the owner does not intend to serve alcoholic beverages at the location.

There are also allegations that certain inspectors play favorites with certain bars and clubs that repeatedly get warning letters instead of fines for violations.

While there had been rumblings of problems at ABCA, including severe employee morale issues, this comes as a surprise. I've known Staples and Wagner for some time and thought of them as having impeccable character.

It occurred to me, though, that if a liquor distributor provides gifts or travel, etc., to an ABCA official in hopes of getting better promotion and placement of their products, that's potentially a criminal offense.

However, if a pharmaceutical manufacturer provides gifts or travel to a physician in hopes of getting that physician to prescribe the company's brand-name drug, that's simply considered a cost of doing business.

Speaking of the Lottery, it's been more than a year since Director John Musgrave was granted a stay of a U.S. District Court order that would allow bars and clubs with limited video lottery to advertise.

That stay was granted until the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond could rule on the appeal.

The court finally heard arguments on the appeal last Wednesday. Deputy attorney general Kathy Schultz represented the Lottery Commission, while ACLU attorney Terri Baur represented the club owners.

It's an interesting issue pitting the right of the state to restrict and regulate access to neighborhood video slot parlors, and the operator's free speech rights - although a majority of limited video lottery operators have no issue with the advertising ban.

Lottery general counsel John Melton said it could be as long as nine months before the three-judge panel issues its decision.

Meanwhile, some local video lottery operators have gotten plenty of free advertising with coverage of the county's smoking ban in bars and clubs.

Add Joe Smith, Manchin's consultant on personnel issues and the architect of legislation the governor is expected to introduce next session replacing merit pay raises with one-time merit bonuses, to the list of double-dippers in the state.

Smith, who retired in 2004 as state personnel director, draws a pension from the Public Employees Retirement System of $46,123, in addition to his contract with the governor's office, currently at $74,280 a year.

Finally, the General Services Division is taking bids for four large "fabric-covered structures" (tents?), with three to be 24 feet by 30 feet, and one at 40 feet by 60 feet, for the Capitol Complex.

Fortunately, though, it turns out that neither is the circus coming to town nor is the Governor's Mansion reception tent getting neighbors.

The tents will be used by General Services' grounds crew for storage of lawn equipment and supplies such as topsoil and mulch. While technically on the Capitol Complex grounds, the tents will be located on the far end of Michigan Avenue, next to the interstate, out of view of most Capitol visitors.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.