Now here is a very generous man who along with Jim Traficant got into
some trouble with bribery, etc; but, this man pled guilty and said he
had sinned and he was sorry.
Seems to be one of the last big spenders; his father built 2 or 3
shopping malls and they reside in Youngstown, Ohio which which needless
to say today, they have lost so much industry it is not as it used to be
but sitll has the connections to what some call, The Mob.
So - Here are some of the contributions this man has made He does want
his daughter to run for congress......
Donations (Or Do some of these consitute maybe a little more than a
donation - say a bribe as with Traficant for that guy is indicted again)
So Item Number One and this is Free Republic and they now picket Gary
Condit in Modesto, CA....they are the ones demanding he resign:
FreeRepublic.com "A Conservative News Forum"
Rep. Traficant Charged With Bribery
Crime/Corruption Front Page News Keywords:
BRIBERY BULL'S-EYE RACKETEERING, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BRIBERY, TAKING
ILLEGAL GRATUITIES, AND FIL
Source: dailynews.yahoo.com
Published: Friday May 4 6:52 PM ET Author: M.R. KROPKO,
Posted on 05/04/2001 18:08:58 PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK
Rep. Traficant Charged With Bribery
By M.R. KROPKO, Associated Press Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) - Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., whose brash talk and loud
clothes set him apart amid Washington's pinstripes and polish, was
indicted Friday on federal charges of selling local political favors and
making his office employees work his farm.
The 59-year-old conservative Democrat from the Youngstown area faces 10
counts, including racketeering, conspiracy to commit bribery, taking
illegal gratuities, and filing a false tax return.
Traficant won re-election in November to his ninth two-year term, even
though he had repeatedly said he expected to be indicted.
Just before the indictment was announced, the congressman said: ``I´m
as frightened as anyone can be.
I´m going to say this to the U.S. attorneys: You´d best defeat me,
because if I beat you, you´ll be working in Mingo Junction.´´
Mingo Junction is a small, remote Ohio town. Among other things, he is
accused of making three of his office workers bale hay, run and repair
farm equipment, repair barn walls and build a corral at his horse farm
just outside Youngstown, a Rust Belt city plagued by decades of mob
corruption.
He is also accused of doing local political favors for a businessman and
for contractors who had been hired to work at his farm. Also, he
allegedly received part of a staff member's pay to allow the man to
continue working for him. In addition, the indictment alleges Traficant
and his wife did not report all of their income in tax years 1998 and
1999.
If convicted on all charges, Traficant could get 63 years in prison and
$2.2 million in fines, and the House could vote to expel him.
In a statement, Traficant said the charges were brought by ``overzealous
bureaucrats´´ who employed ``pressure and intimidation.´´
The U.S. Justice Department (news - web sites) has been investigating
corruption in the Youngstown area for several years. Since the first
indictments in 1997, more than 70 people have been convicted, including
a judge, a prosecutor, a sheriff and a Traficant aide.
Traficant said he would defend himself in court, though he is not a
lawyer. He did the same thing in 1983 when he was acquitted of accepting
mob bribes while Mahoning County sheriff. He lost a U.S. Tax Court case
in 1987 stemming from the same issues.
``I have had a bull´s-eye on my back ever since I defeated the
Department of Justice (news - web sites), being the only American in
United States history to have defeated the Justice Department´´ in a
racketeering case while representing himself, Traficant said. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Craig Morford, the lead prosecutor in the Youngstown-area
corruption cases, had no comment on the indictment.
Traficant was first elected to Congress in 1984 and became known for his
unruly head of hair, his plaid pants, his colorful blazers with
contrasting white stitching and his provocative, arm-waving theatrics on
the House floor.
He is known to bellow ``Beam me up!´´ - a line from ``Star
Trek´´ - to show his disgust at something in government. The tax
code is a frequent target. He once declared: ``The White House will not
wise up until there is a Chinese rocket stuffed right up their
assets.´´ And he cited ``pantyhose crotch closer´´ as an example
of bad jobs left for Americans. He is the only member of the House
without a committee assignment.
Democrats denied him a committee seat after he voted for Republican
Dennis Hastert as speaker of the House. Since announcing he was a probe
target, Traficant had been on a tear against the Justice Department. He
took to the House floor last year and vowed to ``fight like a junkyard
dog´´ against any charges.
Traficant had made repeated corruption accusations against the FBI
former Attorney General Janet Reno and federal prosecutors in Ohio.
Among other things, the indictment alleges a paving contractor did work
for free at the congressman's farm, and Traficant contacted prison
authorities to help one of the company's owners who served a prison
term.
He also is accused of accepting free labor and materials from another
contractor in return for several political favors, including contacting
a local agency on the contractor's behalf during the bidding on a
demolition project.
The indictment alleges that after a businessman bought a boat from
Traficant, the congressman contacted the Federal Aviation Administration
(news - web sites), supporting aircraft landing technology developed by
the businessman's company, U.S. Aerospace Group of Manassas, Va. The
businessman, John J. Cafaro of the Youngstown area, was charged Friday
with conspiracy to commit bribery.
-saba note: Note John J. Cafaro is JJ Cafaro now.
``My conduct crossed the line between permissible, legitimate lobbying
and unlawful conduct, and I accept full responsibility for my
actions,´´ Cafaro said in a prepared statement.
Item Numbe Two:
Now here is a nice donation by J.J. Cafaro and noe Mr. and Mrs. Lex
Wexner (he used to have a nice place in Florida with dock and airstrip
and has planes so big they have to land at Rickenbacker)......But note
this hefty "contribution" and the unusual amount - not even rounded out?
Ohio's Greatest Home Newspaper
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
By Darrel Rowland
Dispatch Public Affairs Editor
Few Ohioans have heard of Montford Will, but the securities executive
from Dublin has become one of Ohio Democratic Chairman David J. Leland's
favorite people.
"I wish I had 10 more like him,'' Leland said.
Ah, the affection $360,000 in campaign contributions can generate.
Will, virtually unheard of even in political circles, rocketed to the
top of the state's big- donor list last year with his largess to the
Ohio Democratic Party, including a $200,000 check less than two weeks
before the November election.
Big givers
The top donors to state candidates and political parties in the 1997-98
election cycle.
INDIVIDUALS1.
Montford WillDublin $385,5752.
Michael BoichSteubenville $203,8103.
James Dicke IINew Bremen$159,0504.
Leslie H. WexnerColumbus $138,0005.
David BrennanAkron$106,3506.
Abigail Wexner (now his is Lex's Wife
New Albany $103,5007.
Richard E. Jacobs Westlake $103,2008.
Ann Brennan Akron $93,200.
John CafaroYoungstown $ 81,600
Item Number 3
Here is J J again and that guy gets around but do not know how much he
shelled out here for sure, but Ba Ba Streisand, the canary who sings
through her nose, was here: And Heres JJ ------wonder how much Clinton
got:
WORD ON THE STREET
Tuesday, August 15th, 2000
Staples: Inside & Out
The thick blue line
Photo by Virginia Lee HunterWHEN THE
MUSIC STOPPED
Just before Hillary Clinton spoke inside the Democratic National
Convention, thousands of revelers danced to Rage Against the Machine in
the hurricane-fenced protest pit facing Staples Center. Along the south
fence, though, no one was listening. On one side dozens of police were
massed, pepper-spray guns and batons at the ready. On the other huddled
the Black Block, about 75 anarchist protesters in black-hooded
sweatshirts, already angry after two of their members were knocked from
the fence with pepper-spray blasts. One, a tall mohawked anarchist named
Ruckus, explained,
"I wanted to send a message, that this ain't democracy. If this was
democracy, then the people would be allowed in."
Within 30 minutes, Black Block regrouped and started charging the fence
with a handicap-parking-sign-cum-battering-ram.
Sticks and plastic water bottles flew at the cops, who responded with
volleys of pepper spray. A few protesters began smashing chunks of
cement and hurling them over the fence. More pepper spray followed.
Ruckus was soon carried off, coughing, by two friends as DAN leader Lisa
Fithian yelled at a rock-throwing anarchist, "Hey, we really don't need
this!"
The evening's most dramatic moment came as one young protester weathered
hit after hit with pepper-spray canisters, but stubbornly held tight to
the fence. His eyes squeezed shut, face red and dripping with chemicals,
he swung a leg over the top and sat, kneeling, on the bent chainlink,
waving a black flag to the wild cheers of the crowd below. He was soon
joined by another protester. The two, teary-eyed and gasping, clasped
hands and raised their flags high to frenzied applause.
After several more exchanges of stones and pepper spray, the
announcement came, "This is the Los Angeles Police Department. I hereby
declare this to be an unlawful assembly . . . You have 15 minutes to
disperse." Revelers lingered, drumming and dancing around a bonfire of
protest signs as Black Block members gradually retreated and blended
into the crowd, which was soon forcibly broken up by a column of
baton-swinging mounted police.
The crowd backed off without resistance, but police advanced
aggressively, crushing some protesters between their horses and the
chainlink fences, shooting others point-blank in the back with
pepper-spray pellets as they tried to escape. Homeless Convention
organizer Ted Hayes took a direct hit in the abdomen with a bean bag
fired from a police cannon. One woman pleaded hopelessly with Secret
Service officers to let her through the gates, pleading, "I'm a
delegate, for Christ's sake."
GUESTS OF DISHONOR
The convention may have officially started at 1 p.m. Monday, but
hundreds of the most honored guests — the major donors whose cash in
one way or another paid for the event — were stuck across town at the
Beverly Wilshire Hotel, waiting up to four hours or more for the
special-access passes their open checkbooks had supposedly assured them.
(saba note: And Here's JJ and wonder how much this cost him for you
see he wants his daughter to run for congress)
Some 4,000 donors expected to breeze into the Beverly Wilshire, pick up
their credentials, hop into their limos and cruise downtown. Instead, a
computer glitch stalled the process, causing a logjam of indignant
millionaires.
On her way out, Carol Saal, credential in one hand, complimentary canvas
tote in the other, waved her plastic-encased "honored guest" pass. "I
feel like a dishonored guest," she said. "It's disgraceful."
As the donors arrived at the hotel, they were handed tickets and sent to
the lobby bar to wait until their numbers were called, which got them
past a velvet rope and up to the second floor, where they waited some
more. Upstairs, donors obediently lined up on the thick carpeting. They
read newspapers by the light of the chandeliers, sipped stemmed glasses
of chilled water dispensed from a silver-plated urn, and grumbled
quietly.
**************
J.J. Cafaro, a builder of regional shopping centers from Ohio, who was
nearing the front of the queue, shrugged. "When you make the extra
effort to give your support, you tend to have a certain expectation," he
said. "It's a far cry from what I expected."
***************
Item No. 4
Now here is JJ again - Traficant's former friend who evidently was not
given the up to so many years in prison and he pled guilty - for he had
sinned - now this is interesting because this school uses the parking
lot in part of the Klingle Manson, Klingle Road area in Adam Morgan area
where Condit lives a quiet life - now this guy shelled out $500,000
which is more than he gave to Ohio democrats - picked this up and name
sounded familiar and sure nuff, it was JJ again....very generous and
wonder what the gymn will be called - so he had a daughter who went to
this school and it crossed my mind, wonder if Chandra and this Renee
ever met
Dateline HomeNewsFeaturesEditorialsReviewsDouble
TruckTechnologySportsBackpage
Arts and Athletics Center will provide needed facilities
Robin Koytcheff
The construction of the Arts and Athletics Center has affected life at
Washington International School ranging from sports classes to athletic
activities to classes taken in the Treehouse and Annex.
Construction began in the middle of July. Before it began, the main
problem was with PEPCO. "PEPCO could not locate any drawings of primary
power lines serving the site. Eventually they located these lines
without drawings, and prepared drawings in order to obtain a permit to
take down the Farmhouse," said Director of Finance and Facilities Mary
McCarty.
**************
The road work on Woodley Road has also interfered with construction.
Construction vehicles had to enter from Klingle Road because of
congestion on Macomb Street and neighbors' objections.
*************
According to Ms. McCarty, loss of about 38 parking spaces and congestion
on the School's roadway are problems that were anticipated before
construction began. Use of the area behind the Mansion has solved some
problems because it has created more parking spaces and allowed trucks
to access the construction site more easily. (This is Klingle Manson
which Chandra looked up)
*****************
Physical education classes have been affected drastically by
construction. "It's taken away our main playing field. We're limited to
playing on the banana field. It's obviously sloped and has some rocks.
It's not as ideal as our playing field," said PE teacher Pat Rumbaugh.
Because of larger classes and less space, organizing PE classes has
"become very frustrating. We've had to limit our level of variety in
activities," said PE teacher John Crocker.
Another important issue is time wasted for transportation to other sites
such as Jelleff and Hearst fields, which reduces the amount of time
allowed for playing sports. "Whereas we used to have a large amount of
time for a soccer game on campus, we now have to travel to other
fields," said Mr. Crocker.
These problems were anticipated before construction. "We knew it would
be very constricting," said Mr. Crocker.
"You try to look at the end goal and make the best of it," said Mrs.
Rumbaugh.
Other classes have also been affected because of noise caused by
construction and because of the relocation of the Treehouse and the
Annex. "Half our classrooms are trailers," said 11th grader Luc LeBard.
Math teacher and Girls Varsity Soccer Coach Colin Buck said that
construction has affected classes "from the position of where the
Treehouse is now: next to the basketball court, next to the picnic
tables [where] it's going to be inevitably noisy. We'll just have to put
up with it for a year."
But, he added, "it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I
thought it was going to be terrible next to the basketball court, but we
only get the odd basketball coming in now and then."
On the other hand, construction has "affected soccer radically.
Everything now, soccer games and practices, involves transport, which
means time wasted and no instant practices. That's been the main
obstacle for us," said Mr. Buck.
Some teachers have been able to deal with problems caused by
construction. Music classes have been affected "hardly at all,"
according to music teacher Larry Vincent. "If I shut the windows and
turn on the AC it's OK. I've been told the noisiest part is now, and
it's going to get better."
According to Ms. McCarty, "the construction is going along well.
However, no one knows what the weather will be, or if we will have a
mild or a severe winter."
Teachers agree that construction was planned to affect their classes as
little as possible. "The construction people had to do what they had to
do. They had a big project," said Mr. Crocker. "I think they've done
remarkably well," added Mr. Buck.
Some students are disappointed because of the inconveniences. "It's made
lunch and break pretty boring. There's nothing to do now," said 8th
grader Richard Potter.
Despite these current problems, many people are optimistic about how the
Arts and Athletics Center will improve life at WIS. "I'm absolutely
thrilled to be seeing the Arts and Athletics Center under construction.
I'm really honored to be a part of WIS because I think it's going to
make it a top notch school," said Mrs. Rumbaugh.
Some students had positive opinions, too. "The construction people are
beneficial because they sometimes give us breaks from school through
their ineptitude," said 11th grader Ivan Khilko.
"I would say besides the incident where we missed school, construction
hasn't affected my life at school as much as I thought it would," said
11th grader Sarah Halpern. "It's pretty much stayed out of the way. But
then again, I don't play sports."
Although the gym should be finished by spring 2000, it might only be
used starting in the fall of 2000. It will improve sports classes
dramatically for indoor activities because no time will be wasted for
traveling to off campus sites, and teachers will be able to set up
activities before classes.
********************
The art and music departments will also benefit since there will be
rooms designated for these subjects in the Arts and Athletics Center.
"We'll have great facilities. We'll have an adequate chorus room, band
room, and practice room. I'm looking forward to it," said Mr. Vincent.
$500,000 gift from Cafaro family names the new gym
This summer, J.J. Cafaro, father of Renee Cafaro, who attended WIS from
1996 to 1999, signed a pledge to give $500,000 to the school in exchange
for naming the new gym.
Renee was, according to Celia Luxmoore, Director of Advancement, "very
happy and satisfied" with her stay. "My daughter had an education here
second to none," said Mr. Cafaro, who was very pleased with his
daughter's stay.
The pledge contract that confirmed the $500,000 donation was dated May
11, 1999, and is the largest single donation in WIS history. Gifts of
$50,000 have come in quite often, and have, through pledges, resulted in
ten other room names in the Arts and Athletics Center being committed.
Mrs. Luxmoore, who seemed very excited about the donations, added, "We
hope Mr. Cafaro's gift will inspire others to donate to the school, so
that we can provide the top-quality facilities needed to match the
academic program."
Return to top of page
Saba Note: Oh a Gift does blind the eyes of the Judge but maybe he is
just a nice guy????
That is a lot of money to shell out for well who knows?
So here is item from same web - a walk for his same school in Rock Creek
where they now search for little Chandra Levy's body"
Dateline HomeNewsFeaturesEditorialsReviewsDouble
TruckTechnologySportsBackpage
Walking for WIS and Rock Creek
Martha Hunt
The WIS Walk-a-Thon was held last Sunday, October 17. The Walk-a-Thon
committee (including seventh grade parent Maureen Miller and Catharine
Ecton of the Advancement Office) hoped to have students raise up to $25
each through a series of sponsors pledging $5 each (exact figures are
not available yet).
Middle School Principal Sandra Bourne and physical education teacher Pat
Rumbaugh said they wanted to build school spirit, as well as give
parents, friends, the community, and students a chance to give back to
the school.
Proceeds will go towards the arts and athletics program, and to an
organization which works to help preserve Rock Creek Park. (Saba Note:
This is where JJ's $500,000 will build the gymn....in Klingle Park Area
by the Old Mill Stream)
Item 5
Just off press May 2001 where they nailed JJ and Traficant and of course
JJ will get off won't he while they Hang Jim Tranficanat to the highest
cherry tree?
Nice story - wonder if Jim knows Condit - bet they hate each other?
But JJ like Jimmy Swaggart knows he has sinned.......
The Business Journal Online May 2001
Traficant Indicted on 10 Counts of Bribery, Conspiracy and Other Federal
Charges
Government also files a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery of a
public official against Youngstown-area businessman J.J. Cafaro.
05/04/01
By Andrea Wood
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Federal officials announced a 10-count indictment
of U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. (D-17th Ohio) shortly before noon
today. If convicted of all charges, the congressman faces fines in the
amount of $1.2 million and a sentence, if served consecutively, of 43
years. He may also forfeit ownership of the family horse farm in
Greenford Township, the value of which has been enriched by illegal
activities.
Also indicted today is Youngstown area businessman John J. Cafaro (shown
at right with Traficant at a 1998 ground-breaking), who allegedly gave
Traficant $13,000 in cash plus paid for $26,000 for repairs to the
congressman's boat. The government claims that Traficant reciprocated by
supporting a product under development by a company with which Cafaro
was affiliated.
As of 5 p.m. May 4, neither Traficant nor Cafaro had been arrested.
Reporters from Youngstown, Cleveland and Washington were camped outside
Traficant's Poland, Ohio, home as well as his family farm in Greenford,
Ohio, which is the setting for many of the allegations contained in the
indictment.
In a written statement, Traficant warned: "Any news media that comes to
my residence and or interferes with my private life will not receive any
interviews from me. I will be making a public statement on May 7 and am
waiting for all the information to come down. I will defend myself
against these undefeated bureaucrats in Cleveland. I am truly sorry for
all the pressure and intimidation that has been placed on many good
people, who have been victimized during this process, by the overzealous
bureaucrats in Cleveland. I wish everyone well."
The 41-page indictment of the congressman -- who has represented the
Mahoning Valley since 1985 -- details a series of kickback schemes in
return for Traficant interceding, in his official capacity, on behalf of
those making the payoffs, including one member of his congressional
staff from who he rented office space. The charges also claim that
Traficant forced employees of his district offices perform, without pay
and on government time, manual labor on his farm, where contractors also
had made substantial improvements free of charge.
Read full text of announcement regarding Traficant
Read shorter version
Many of the allegations contained in the indictment have been reported
by The Vindicator and other daily newspapers over the course of the
federal grand jury's 17-month investigation. But one of the allegations,
conspiracy to violate the federal bribery statute, was not widely known
-- and may well be the most stunning. According to the indictment,
Traficant set up a scheme whereby he hired an attorney, rented space
from him for an office, and the attorney put $2,500 in an envelope every
month and slipped it under Traficant's office door.
The indictment does not identify the employee.
In November 1998, the government claims, the congressman offered to
employ a "Youngstown area attorney known to the grand jury as
administrative counsel on his congressional staff and to continue to
lease office space for use as a congressional district office at 11
Overhill Road, Boardman, Ohio, provided that the attorney...divert
$2,500 per month from his salary as a congressional staff employee to
Traficant."
According to the Polk City Directory, attorneys practicing at 11
Overhill Road are Henry A. DiBlasio and R. Allen Sinclair. DiBlasio was
employed as Traficant's chief of staff during his early years in
Congress. The Business Journal has learned that the attorney referred to
in the indictment is Sinclair.
The attorney who was not named in the indictment "met with Traficant's
administrative assistant who acknowledged that he also had diverted a
portion of his salary to Traficant and explained that the procedure for
giving money to Traficant was to cash the congressional pay check at a
financial institution, obtain cash, place the cash into an envelope and
slide the envelope with cash under the door of Traficant's office at 11
Overhill Road."
The indictment says the attorney joined Traficant's staff and began
making cash monthly payments in the amount of $2,500 in December 1998.
It also claims that Traficant urged this employee "to destroy evidence
and to provide false testimony and information" to the grand jury.
Other employees of Traficant's congressional staff were forced to
perform chores at his horse farm -- a practice that began in 1988 and
continued through February 2000, the government alleges. "Traficant
repeatedly directed employees of his Youngstown and Niles congressional
staff" to labor at the farm doing chores such as "baling hay, running
and repairing farm equipment, maintaining and repairing structures such
as barn walls, horse stalls and a farm house deck, building a horse
corral, converting a corn crib to another use, electrical repair, and
plumbing repair." None of the employees were ever paid, the indictment
states.
Traficant also accepted free labor and materials from Asphalt Specialist
Inc. and Prime Contractors Inc., Girard companies owned by Anthony and
Robert Bucci that performed work on the farm. In return, the government
alleges, Traficant used his congressional office to intercede on the
company's behalf.
During late 1986 and early 1987, Traficant helped the Buccis resolve a
dispute between Asphalt Specialist and a labor union, the indictment
states. "At or about that same time, Asphalt Specialist performed
services at the request of Traficant at his farm [and] billed Traficant
$10,233.25 to cover its costs of labor and materials. Throughout the
period from May 1987 through November 1988, Traficant failed to pay this
bill...In response to threats of collection actions by the Buccis,
Charles O'Nesti [the congressman's former aide] told the Buccis that
there were actions that Traficant, as their local congressman, could
take to help them if they would forgive the debt...The Buccis [agreed
to] forgive the debt [and Traficant agreed to] intercede in future
matters when requested by the Buccis, and the Buccis would continue to
provide additional things of value to Traficant."
The government claims the congressman subsequently intevened on the
Buccis' behalf "in matters pending before the Federal Bureau of Prisons,
the Youngstown Community Corrections Association, the Ohio Department of
Transportation, the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Labor, the
Weathersfield Township Board of Trustees, the office of the Mahoning
County engineer, and the loan department of a bank in Youngstown."
(Federal Bur of Prisons is this where Chandra worked????????)
etc, etc, etc........
The count of the indictment involving Cafaro -- conspiracy to commit
bribery -- claims that Traficant accepted payoffs from Cafaro in return
for his advocacy before federal agencies of a new aircraft landing
technology being developed by one of Cafaro's companies.
Cafaro is an officer of The Cafaro Co., the Youngstown shopping center
developer that manages commercial centers across the country including
the Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio, the Ashtabula Mall in Ashtabula, Ohio,
and the Mill Creek Mall in Erie, Pa. If convicted,
Cafaro faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine
and three years of supervised release. Cafaro says he will plead guilty
to the charge; the implication is he will testify against Traficant
(read story).
Read full text of government announcement regarding Cafaro
Read shorter version
The indictment claims Traficant took "numerous official actions" from
February to July 1998 to promote the laser-guidance technology marketed
by U.S. Aerospace Group, an Ohio company that obtained the rights to the
technology from Cafaro Laser Ltd. Those actions included encouraging
"certification of the technology by the Federal Aviation Administration
and to promote use of the technology by the FAA, the U.S. Army and the
U.S. Coast Guard.
In July 1998, the chief operating officer of U.S. Aerospace Group told
Cafaro that Traficant owed $26,000 on his boat, which needed major
repairs before it could be sold. "On or about July 28, 1998," the
indictment states, "Cafaro had an employee purchase a cashier's check in
the amount of $26,948.18 payable to Nations Bank, the bank holding the
boat loan, and listing Traficant as the purchaser of the cashier's
check. Traficant subsequently expressed concern about the transaction,
saying he feared it would look bad if it ever became public that Cafaro
had purchased the boat during the time he was promoting the technology
of Cafaro's company...[and] they would have to find another way to
complete the sale."
A plan was concocted whereby an engineer for U.S. Aerospace Group would
arrange and pay for repairs to the boat and then give Traficant $26,000
to complete the sale. The repairs were made and Cafaro reimbursed the
company engineer, the government claims.
In the fall of 1998, Traficant told Cafaro he was experiencing financial
difficulties and asked for an advance on the $26,000 purchase price of
the boat. Cafaro gave the congressman "an envelope containing $13,000 in
cash," the indictment states.
Other charges against Traficant include filing false federal income tax
returns for 1998 and 1999, and committing mail fraud in relation to
paychecks mailed to employees of the congressman's district offices.
Additional RICO counts -- violations of the Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations Act -- encompass all of the alleged payoffs,
kickbacks and illegal gifts, which represent a pattern of racketeering
activity, the government claims.
Two hours before the indictment was announced, Traficant met with
reporters at Poland High School, where he addrssed students on the
dangers of using illegal drugs.
"I believe that prosecutors are using this indictment to orchestrate the
prosecutorial strategy to give witnesses a chance to roll over and offer
testimony against me," he said.
The congressman told reporters that his own sources reported to him that
the grand jury handed down its indictment Thursday afternoon. He warned
prosecutors not to leak the indictment to notify him before the
press. "If the indictment is leaked, I'll put their asses in jail
because that's a felony," he vowed.
Over the course of the Cleveland grand jury's lengthy investigation into
his activities, Traficant claims as many as seven U.S. attorneys sat in
the grand jury room as witnesses offered testimony. He says many of
these witnesses were intimidated and have told him federal prosecutors
were trying to manipulate their testimony by "putting words into their
mouths."
On May 3, as he fielded calls from news organizations across the country
inquiring about his imminent indictment, Traficant introduced
legislation intended to reform the grand jury process and allow
witnesses to have an attorney present in the grand jury room during
questioning to assist with their testimony.
"The purpose of grand-jury questioning is not to intimidate and
frighten, but to investigate and seek truth," he states in a news
release. "Instead, prosecutors are pressuring witnesses into saying what
they want them to say and if they do not, they indict them for perjury.
The manipulations of U.S. attorneys and prosecutors has turned out to be
a charade of justice."
At today's news conference, Traficant said he also "will be offering
legislation to open the process of discovery. The U.S. attorney hides
behind what they call work process," he explained, and does not release
what defense attorneys might construe as exculpatory evidence.
Youngstown Publishing Co
PO Box 714
Youngstown, OH 44501 800/837-NEWS
Now Boeing has complaint against Traficant and the guy who is mad is
named Condit out of California, but he seems very respetable.
J.J. Cafaro Says He Will Plead Guilty
05/05/01
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Youngstown area businessman J.J. Cafaro, an officer
of
The Cafaro Co., says he will plead guilty to federal charges that he
conspired to commit bribery.
Cafaro is charged with paying U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. $13,000
in
cash and another $26,000 in repairs made to the congressman's boat in
return
for his advocacy before federal agencies of a new aircraft landing
technology being developed by one of Cafaro's companies.
Cafaro is an officer of The Cafaro Co., the Youngstown shopping center
developer that manages commercial centers across the country including
the
Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio, the Ashtabula Mall in Ashtabula, Ohio, and
the
Mill Creek Mall in Erie, Pa. If convicted, Cafaro faces a maximum
penalty of
five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised
release.
In announcing late May 4 that he will plead guilty, Cafaro issued the
following statement:
"Today, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
filed
an information alleging that I agreed to pay an inappropriate gratuity
to an
elected official, Congressman James A. Traficant, Jr. I intend to plead
guilty voluntarily to that charge. My conduct stems from my personal
ownership and management of U.S. Aerospace Group ("USAG") which is a
laser-technology company headquartered in and operated from Manassas,
Virginia. Since the inception of the government's investigation, USAG
and I
have responded promptly to all requests for information from the
government,
and we continue to cooperate fully in this matter. During my
cooperation, it
became apparent that my conduct crossed the line between permissible,
legitimate lobbying and unlawful conduct, and I accept full
responsibility
for my actions in relationship to USAG. I deeply regret the
embarrassment
this incident has caused to my family and community. I intend to work
diligently within the community to repair the damage that has been
caused by
my mistake."
The government claims Traficant took "numerous official actions" from
February to July 1998 to promote the laser-guidance technology marketed
by
U.S. Aerospace Group, an Ohio company that obtained the rights to the
technology from Cafaro Laser Ltd. Those actions included encouraging
"certification of the technology by the Federal Aviation Administration
and
to promote use of the technology by the FAA, the U.S. Army and the U.S.
Coast Guard.
In July 1998, the chief operating officer of U.S. Aerospace Group told
Cafaro that Traficant owed $26,000 on his boat, which needed major
repairs
before it could be sold. "On or about July 28, 1998," the indictment
states,
"Cafaro had an employee purchase a cashier's check in the amount of
$26,948.18 payable to Nations Bank, the bank holding the boat loan, and
listing Traficant as the purchaser of the cashier's check. Traficant
subsequently expressed concern about the transaction, saying he feared
it
would look bad if it ever became public that Cafaro had purchased the
boat
during the time he was promoting the technology of Cafaro's
company...[and]
they would have to find another way to complete the sale."
The Cafaro Company also issued a statement May 4 that stated executives
are
"deeply troubled by the circumstances leading to the Information filed
today
against John J. Cafaro...."
"USAG is Mr. John J. Cafaro's personal venture, and it is separate and
independent of the Cafaro Company. It is not any affiliate or subsidiary
of
The Cafaro Company...Notwithstanding this unfortunate development, the
Cafaro family and the employees of The Cafaro Company continue to
support
John J. Cafaro as a colleague and a friend."
©2001 Youngstown Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Youngstown Publishing Co
PO Box 714
Youngstown, OH 44501 800/837-NEWS
No wonder JJ has been so generous and then that idiot GORE GOT
BEAT.......
But do wonder about this Washington DC connection to Klingle Park/Rock
Fork Mansion and wonder.....these are tough people from Youngstown and
Traficant is madder than hell for he will go to prison, and JJ will get
off well, Scot Free?
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