Agent's mailbox bombed in McAlester

Tuesday, May 6th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ FBI officials say they're looking at all angles in their investigation of the explosion of a homemade bomb in a McAlester agent's mailbox, including a connection to an investigation of former Sen. Gene Stipe's campaign contributions.

The bomb exploded in an agent's mailbox at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday. No one was injured, but officials say the agent's home wasn't picked by accident.

Agents from the McAlester office were active in the investigation of contributions to failed congressional candidate Walt Roberts.

``The McAlester office (of the FBI) played rather a primary role in the development of the Stipe investigation,'' said John Lewis, special agent in charge of the bureau's Oklahoma City office. ``It would not be prudent to dismiss that. While looking at it as a possibility, we're not focusing on it.''

Stipe resigned from the Senate on March 11 and later pleaded guilty to federal charges that he gave more than $245,000 to Roberts' then lied to federal investigators about the money's source. He is awaiting sentencing.

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction.

People with information can call the Oklahoma City office of the FBI at (405) 290-7770.