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The abandonment of the case came in the form of motion to dismiss indictments against River Birch-related figures Dominick Fazzio, River Birch CFO, and businessman Mark Titus, a Fazzio business partner who previously pleaded guilty.
The motion from the U.S. Justice Department doesn't give the reasons for the complete about-face, but it appears to stem from the online commenting scandal that led to four high-profile departures from the top ranks of the U.S. Attorney's office, including longtime U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
The motion, filed late Friday morning, is signed by Jack Smith, chief of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, the office investigating the online commenting scandal.
While he was never indicted, Heebe and his team of attorney's went on the offensive in the sprawling investigation against him and ultimately exposed the frequent anonymous online comments by veteran federal prosecutor Sal Perricone and First Assistant Jan Mann, both of whom were forced to resign.
Mann's husband, longtime prosecutor Jim Mann, also left the office, but the biggest blow to the office was Letten's resignation amid the internal investigation.
