VIDEO OF US ATTY DETTELBACH POSTED: INVESTIGATION OF FRUSTACI COMPLETED. HE'S IN FBI CUSTODY. DUE TO APPEAR IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY. SHOULD THE COUNTY TREASURY THEFT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT SOONER?

The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio today held a press conference at the Stark County Office Building in which he laid out a federal information filed against former Chief Deputy Vince Frustaci alleging that Frustaci took $2,264,989.00 from the Stark treasury for his personal use.

Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor (Republican, also a candidate for lieutenant governor of Ohio) glossed over the apparent reality that had Frustaci not gone on vacation, the theft of treasury funds probably would not have been discovered.

A comment that was pretty much ignored by Dettelback, Ferrero and Taylor was one made by Bethlehem Township resident Tom Marcelli to the effect that Dettelback, Ferrero and Taylor (the persons presenting at the press conference on the Frustaci information) should not be glad-handing one another.  Rather they should be lamenting the fact that local officials and Taylor's office (who has a continuing year-to-year presence in the Stark treasury doing "routine" audits) were seven years in catching the loss of taxpayer money.

The SCPR agrees with Marcelli that today was not a day for celebrating.  To the credit of Prosecutor John Ferrero, he was the only person who spoke at the press conference who at least, indirectly, acknowledged that government had failed to secure taxpayer money and that the loss of taxpayer trust will take a long time to recover.

Currently, the SCPR is in the process of uploading a video of United States Attorney Steven Dettelbach's comments.

Here is video of U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach:

IT HAS BEEN 11 MONTHS SINCE STARK COUNTY TREASURER GARY ZEIGLER FIRED HIS CHIEF DEPUTY VINCE FRUSTACI AFTER MAKING ALLEGATIONS THAT FRUSTACI HAD TAKEN COUNTY MONEY. IS THIS CASE ABOUT TO BREAK WIDE OPEN?

 

UPDATE:  03/03/2010 AT 6:00 PM

Earlier today, the SCPR received an e-mail from Brad Iams who is legal counsel for Vincent Frustaci.

The e-mail is reproduced in-full below.

The part of the e-mail that The Report wants to address specifically is Attorney Iams statement that the SCPR has a SCPR source specifically alleging that Vincent Frustaci "is  'cooperating'  with federal investigators with regard to some type of gambling investigation."

The blog in question has SCPR's source alleging that Mr. Frustaci "is cooperating in what appears to be a larger investigation ... that may go well beyond the original alleged offense."

The Report does not believe that the blog language cited above is presented as having the SCPR's source making a specific gambling investigation allegation.  

However, the SCPR thanks Attorney Iams for writing to The Report and providing SCPR readers with a direct statement, from one who obviously has knowledge of the situation, of what is not a part of the investigation, to the degree an investigation exists. 

Attorney Iams and any other person  who has an interest in a SCPR posting and who identifies him/herself is more than welcome to submit responses, comments and observations on blog content.  The Report will provide space as has been done in this instance.

Here is the entire Iams e-mail.

ORIGINAL POST, posted on 03/02/10 at 5:09 AM

It was April 1, 2009 (and it was not an April fools joke) when news broke that Stark County treasurer Gary Zeigler fired his chief deputy Vince Frustaci making allegations that Frustaci had stolen from the county treasury.

It is now eleven months later and there has not been any law enforcement action taken that has made it to the public record.

However, the SCPR has learned that Frustaci has either made or is close to making a deal with investigating federal police officials.  Moreover, The Report has a source saying that Frustaci is cooperating with investigators in what appears to be a larger investigation involving other Stark Countians that may go well beyond the original alleged offense.

If true, what could the "well-beyond" be?

The SCPR's attention is being pointed to what another source identifies as a well-known large illegal gambling phenomenon that likely constitutes Stark's biggest crime problem.  Bigger even than illegal drug usage and trafficking!  Moreover, The Report is told that the extent of the problem is only part of the story.  Perhaps the more important part is that the alleged illegal gambling may involve some leading Stark County citizens who have public responsibilities.

A number of sources have told The Report that the reason Frustaci - if Zeigler's accusation of theft proves true - took county money may have been to cover gambling debts in area high stakes poker games.  Obviously, if the speculation is correct, Frustaci is likely being pressed by federal law enforcement to assist them, as  a part of any plea bargain considerations, to share what he knows, if anything, about Stark County illegal gambling.

So,  it could turn out that "added - law enforcement - value" to the citizens of Stark County may come out of the alleged theft problem which started in the Stark County treasurer's office.

If it does, then Stark Countians will want to know the following:

How is it that it took federal authorities to identify the problem and to deal with it?

If the illegal gambling activity is as large as being suggested to The Report; how is it that the Stark County's sheriff failed to get a handle on the problem first?

Moreover, how is it that Stark County's only countywide newspaper (The Rep) has not had its ear to the ground and pushed local law enforcement to look into what officials at The Repository have had to been hearing?  Would anyone believe that the "powers-that-be" at The Rep have not been privy to what is being told to The Report?

If so, then The Repository is truly out-of-touch with what is going on Stark County!

THE HAMMER IS ABOUT TO FALL IN THE FRUSTACI INVESTIGATION - WHO & HOW MANY WILL BE INDICTED?

UPDATE: JULY 16, 2009 AT 4:30 PM

The SCPR has new information which suggests that the number of indictments will more likely be on the low side of the estimates in the original piece below. Right now the SCPR believes the indictments will most likely be two in number and that the end of July is probably too early to expect indictments to be handed down.

The SCPR will update this blog as more information is forthcoming.

ORIGINAL BLOG


The Stark County Political Report (SCPR/The Report) has learned that as many as seven indictments may be coming down in the investigation of the Stark County Treasurer's office and the reported loss of $2 to 3 million in taxpayer funds.

County treasurer Gary Zeigler fired his chief deputy Vince Frustaci alleging that Frustaci pilfered the money. The firing occurred on April 1, 2009.

The SCPR has two primary sources on the question of who and how many Stark Countians will be indicted as a consequence of an investigation being conducted by the FBI.

One source says seven people will likely be indicted, but could not definitely say that all seven would be Stark Countians.

The other SCPR source says that seven is too high.

But both agree that indictments could be forthcoming soon. Perhaps, by the end of July.

The SCPR believes that one of the persons to be indicted will be Frustaci and that another highly likely indictment will be of a high ranking Stark County bank official who allegedly facilitated the theft.

The bill is in on Ohio auditor Mary Taylor's forensic audit of the Stark County treasury in light of the FBI investigation and it will total $150,000.

This $150,000 coupled with the likely $100,000 deductible that the county will likely pay on the reported settlement of the Hope Steffy case is not exactly news that Stark County taxpayers want to hear.