Bernard Kerik may be under FBI probe

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- New York City's ex-police Commissioner Bernard Kerik under investigation by the city might be the subject of a FBI inquiry as well.

Sources told the New York Post the FBI is examining Kerik's relationship with organized crime-linked Wall Street securities trader Lawrence Ray and his $6.2 million profit from exercising stock options in Taser International, which sold stun guns to the Department of Homeland Security.

After being indicted with 18 others, Ray pleaded guilty to conspiracy in 2001 in a $41 million pump-and-dump stock fraud. He had a falling-out with Kerik over the case, the Post said.

Investigators are examining Ray and a friend paying $10,000 for the Kerik's 1998 wedding reception and giving him $7,000 in wedding gifts.

Kerik recently took his name out of consideration for head the Department of Homeland Security.