Wanta was sentenced to 22 years in prison. (Better he had killed a few people than that he owed taxes.) Afterward, on Sept. 21, 1996, Wanta wrote a mysterious letter to Hillary Rodham Clinton, referring to "U.S. President Bill Clinton's Short Term Notes and IMF Sale of Bullion." In the letter Wanta referred to his own "de-stabilization of the Soviet Union Rubles (SUR)" and noted that he "prevented the Soviet & Italian Mafiosa from the Soviet Funds in favour of our U.S. Treasury & Metals Accounts in excess of US$ 150 billion".

Wanta then threatened: "Until by legal release from the un-consitutional/ false incarceration in Wisconsin--as a diplomat & non-resident--I am legally interested in the corporate placement of short-term notes & I.M.F. gold bullion/troy ounce delivery contract. Thank you for your kind assistance in this timely situation."

Wanta's letter (or letters) got results. On Jan. 10, 1997, Wanta received a reply from Erskine Bowles at the White House.

                         Mr. Leo E. Wanta
                         c/o Kettle Moraine
                         Correctional Institute
                         P.O. Box 31
                         Plymouth, WI 53073

                         Dear Mr. Wanta:

                         Thank you for your
                         letter. I appreciate
                         hearing from you.

                         To give your concerns the
                         proper attention, I have
                         forwarded your letter to
                         the Office of Agency
                         Liaison within the White
                         House. You can be certain
                         that your concerns will
                         be carefully reviewed.

                         Again, thank you for
                         writing.

                         Sincerely,

                         Erskine B. Bowles

On February 1, 1997, after Bowles had checked with W.H. Agency Relations, Leo Wanta was released on $90,000 bail.

So here's what we know about Wanta so far: Extradited from Switzerland on a triviality. Sentenced to 22 years on the same triviality. But then sprung after references to "Bill Clinton's short-term notes" and the White House checks with Agency Liaison.