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Two More Receive Prison Sentences in the Donovan Campaign Scandal

Two More Receive Prison Sentences in the Donovan Campaign Scandal!!!

 

 The Federation Asks Attorney General Jepsen to Pursue Legislation to Place the Burden of Cost for Incarceration on the Felons, Not the Taxpayers! 

 

 

Per Study Released Jan 2012:  The total cost of Connecticut’s prisons and jails—to incarcerate an average daily population of 18,492—was $929.4 million

 

 

September 5, 2013

 

 

From:  The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations
Contact:  Susan Kniep, President
Website:
http://ctact.org/
Email:
fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-803

 

 

Donovan Campaign Scandal Raises Questions….

 

As the Felons are Jailed, Who Will Bailout the Taxpayers from the Costs of their Incarceration?

 

Will the Attorney General Pursue the Pensions of the Corrupt Public Employees/Officials Involved?  Does the 2008 Law Apply?  If Not, Will the AG Seek to Improve the Law?

 

What Did Taxpayers Pay to Incarcerate John Rowland, Philip Giordano, Joe Ganim, Ernie Newton and other Corrupt Public Officials?

 

 

This week the Federation posed these questions to Attorney General Jepsen in the following letter.  Let us know your thoughts on this issue as we review a report issued in January, 2012 captioned The Price of Prisons |Connecticut - Vera Institute of Justice.  The report notes that in Fiscal Year 2010, the Connecticut Department of Corrections (DOC) had $613.3 million in prison expenditures. However, the state also had more than $316.2 million in prison-related costs outside the department’s budget. The total cost of Connecticut’s prisons and jails—to incarcerate an average daily population of 18,492—was therefore $929.4 million, of which 34 percent were costs outside the corrections budget.  Read the report at  http://www.vera.org/files/price-of-prisons-connecticut-fact-sheet.pdf

 

Our September 2, 2013 letter to Attorney General Jepsen is provided below and includes references to the efforts made by the AG’s office in attempts to have the pensions of some corrupt public officials revoked.  Our letter also emphasizes that

  • Connecticut taxpayers should not be burdened with the costs to incarcerate corrupt public officials, public employees and their criminal associates.
  • State Laws should be enacted to lien the criminal’s assets to pay for their incarceration and all associated costs (healthcare, etc). 
  • If the Attorney General’s office has been thwarted in its attempts to secure the pensions of some corrupt public officials and public employees due to the wording of 2008 state legislation, we encourage your office to seek legislative review and revision. 

 

 

In summary, revisions to the 2008 state law relating to pensions should include not only the loss of pensions beyond the scope of the law as it currently exists but also the ability of the State to confiscate the assets of corrupt public employees,

public officials, and their counterparts to cover the full costs of their incarceration.

 

(Our Letter to AG Jepsen is provided below)

 

Today, we learned of two more sentenced in the Donovan campaign scandal.  The first, George Tirado gets prison in Donovan campaign case.  CTMirror.org reports the “former Waterbury police detective and co-owner of a roll-your-own smoke shop, was sentenced Wednesday to 26 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to direct illegal contributions to the congressional campaign of former House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan. “The U.S. attorney's office told Arterton that a prison sentence within the guideline range was necessary to protect the electoral and legislative process from corruption. "There is a need for the Court’s sentence to make clear this type of behavior is intolerable," Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Glover wrote in his sentencing memo.” …..   Tirado lost his police job once he pleaded guilty.”

 

The second was Hogan gets 21 months in campaign scandal.  CTMirror.notes  “A 34-year-old former smoke-shop manager was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison, the fourth defendant to get prison time in the campaign finance scandal that derailed the 2012 congressional campaign of former House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan.”  “U.S. sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of between 24 and 30 months in prison for Hogan, and prosecutors sought a sentence at the bottom of the range. They described him as less culpable than other defendants, but not a minor player. "Mr. Hogan’s knowledge of and participation in the bribery component of this conspiracy renders his conduct more serious than an average participant in similarly charged conspiracies," Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mattei wrote in his sentencing memo. “Hogan was an investor in the smoke shop, as well as the manager. “Prosecutors said he was aware that the goal of the conspiracy was to bribe Donovan.”

 

The Federation’s letter to Attorney General George Jepsen follows…..

 

 

 

September 2, 2013

 

 

To:  Attorney General George Jepsen

attorney.general@ct.gov

860-808-5318

 

Fr:  Susan Kniep, President

The Federation of CT Taxpayer Organizations

FCTOPresident@aol.com

Cell 860-841-8032

 

 

Public Pensions and Incarceration Costs

 

 

Donovan Campaign FBI Sting, Guilty Pleas,

Court Convictions and Sentencing

 

 

*********************

 

 

  • Connecticut taxpayers should not be burdened with the costs to incarcerate corrupt public officials, public employees and their criminal associates.
  • State Laws should be enacted to lien the criminal’s assets to pay for their incarceration and all associated costs (healthcare, etc). 
  • If the Attorney General’s office has been thwarted in its attempts to secure the pensions of some corrupt public officials and public employees due to the wording of 2008 state legislation, we encourage your office to seek legislative review and revision. 

 

 

In summary, revisions to the 2008 state law relating to pensions should include not only the

loss of pensions beyond the scope of the law as it currently exists but also the ability of

the State to confiscate the assets of corrupt public employees,

public officials, and their counterparts to cover the

full costs of their incarceration.

 

 

*********************

 

 

To date, the pay-to-play scheme uncovered by the FBI in 2012 ultimately resulted in guilty pleas and a court conviction in the Donovan campaign scandal. 

 

Again, the label Corrupticut took the spotlight - Political Corruption in Connecticut: Corrupticut Abides - Connecticut .. . - and brought us back to the Rowland era scandal which put the former Governor in jail and also served as the impetus to 2008 State legislation which put at risk the pensions of future corrupt public officials and public employees. 

 

To date, it appears at least two former State employees were netted in the 2012 FBI sting; i.e. Harry Raymond Soucy and Josh Nassi

 

In June, we learned David Moffa sentenced to 2 years in prison for role in Donovan ... scandal.  News reports noted he “was one of seven who pleaded guilty in the case and was the first of the group to be sentenced on felony charges in relation to illegal donations made to Donovan's campaign on behalf of tobacco shop owners”.

 

Last week we learned the fate of William Braddock in the article captioned Fundraiser sentenced to 38 months in prison in case that derailed congressional campaign   As the article notes “A federal grand jury eventually indicted Braddock, Nassi and five others.  “All but Braddock pleaded guilty, as did an eighth and pivotal figure in the conspiracy, Harry Raymond Soucy, a politically connected union official who coached the smoke-shop owners”. 

 

 

It is interesting to note the timeline between July 27, 2012 when it was reported Soucy pleads guilty as others indicted in campaign scandal ...  which followed the July 14, 2012 article announcing Alleged Co-Conspirator Soucy To Receive His Pension - Hartford .... Therein it was reported  “The state has a law under which the attorney general can sue in court to revoke or reduce the pension of a state employee convicted of a crime, but it is narrowly written and difficult to enforce; it only applies to convictions for offenses such as larceny, embezzlement, fraud or bribery relating to the worker's government job. “So far law-enforcement documents indicate Soucy was involved as an individual in a political campaign scheme — and he has not been charged with anything.” 

 

To reiterate, within two weeks of the July 14th article announcing Soucy’s pension and stating “he has not been charged with anything”, the July 27th article noted Soucy pleaded guilty “to one count of devising a scheme to bribe a public official and one count of conspiring to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission.” 

 

On April 12, 2013 we learned Nassi Pleads Guilty; Donovan Says He's 'Disappointed' .  Therein it was noted “Nassi worked as an adviser for Donovan for years before leaving his state Capitol job to serve as the campaign manager for the former speaker’s unsuccessful congressional bid.”  Another article notes “HOGAN and NASSI are scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and July 16, 2013, respectively.  “Both face a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000”.  Apparently, the sentencing dates have been rescheduled. 

 

According to the State’s Transparency website, it appears Nassi earned in excess of $100,000 in wages and benefits and Soucy earned nearly $80,000.  

 

Upon the sentencing of Braddock, U.S. Assistant Attorney Christopher Mattei stated according to news sources “it was important that Braddock’s sentence be an adequate punishment for a crime that fuels public alienation from the government”. “Who gets left out in the cold when that entire [campaign finance] process is concealed from the public? The public,” Mattei said. “Who gets hurt? The people of Connecticut get hurt. The voters of the 5th district get hurt.”

 

And we would add that all taxpayers in the State “get hurt” when burdened with the costs of incarceration of all criminals to include our public officials and public employees who are ultimately incarcerated for their crimes at the taxpayers’ expense. 

 

The question left in many concerned taxpayers minds is – Does your office intend to pursue the pensions of any and all public employees and/or public officials who have been and may be netted in the FBI sting involving the Donovan campaign scandal resulting in a guilty plea or a court conviction?

 

If not, is there a flaw in the 2008 law which prevents you from doing so? 

 

Further, would you consider proposing legislation which would look to the criminals for the costs of their incarceration as opposed to burdening the taxpayers with those costs?  One such cost is Healthcare.  It is interesting to note that many honest, hardworking taxpayers cannot afford healthcare as noted within Daily Kos: Medical bills cause 62 percent of bankruptcies while their taxes pay for the healthcare of incarcerated criminals. 

 

Below are various news articles relating to public employee crimes, the pursuit of pensions by you and your predecessor, Attorney Blumenthal, and why, in some cases, the 2008 legislation apparently did not apply giving rise to the question – Should the 2008 law be revised? 

 

 

If we look back to the May 23, 2012 article captioned Rowland birthday present: Pension payday - Connecticut Post,  which relates to the $50,000 pension scheduled to be paid to the former Governor,  it notes:  

  

 

State law requires that Comptroller Kevin Lembo pay Rowland $5,000 for each of the nearly 10 years that Rowland served in office before his resignation in the face of an impeachment inquiry on July 1, 2004.

The multi-month investigation, which cost the state $6.5 million, culminated in a ruling from the state Supreme Court ordering Rowland to testify before the House Committee of Inquiry. He immediately resigned from office.

In late December of that year he pleaded guilty in federal court and served 10 months of a one-year sentence in a minimum-security prison.

"It is what it is," Lembo said in a Wednesday interview. "He's entitled to the $50,000. That's what the law requires and that's what we will do. There is obviously justifiable anger on this, outside the bubble of Hartford, but until such time as the law changes that's what we have to do."

Attorney General George Jepsen agreed.

"Under state statute, Connecticut's Attorney General is authorized to initiate a civil action seeking reduction or revocation of the pension of any public official who, in state or federal criminal court, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a crime related to state or municipal office on or after October 2008," Jepsen said in a statement. "Therefore, future governors -- or any other state or municipal official, for that matter -- convicted on corruption-related charges could face court action from the Attorney General seeking to revoke or reduce their pension."

 

 

Below are similar articles relating to public employee crimes and pensions to include an article dated Oct, 2011 which focuses on a $66,000 pension paid to an incarcerated former public employee, why the 2008 law did not apply, and your office using another means to pursue the pension he was receiving while in jail.  

 

In summary, revisions to the 2008 law should include not only the loss of pensions beyond the scope of the law as it currently exists but also the ability of the State to confiscate the assets of corrupt public employees, public officials, and their counterparts to cover the full costs of their incarceration. 

 

Further, it would be interesting to know what taxpayers paid for the incarceration of those public officials who received their pensions while not impacted by the 2008 State legislation and as referenced within the 2008 article captioned Pensions Paid To Guilty Officials - Courant.com.

 

If you know these costs, we would appreciate your disclosing them to the public.  If not, we will attempt to obtain the information. 

 

Thank you for your consideration of the aforementioned.  We commend you for your efforts to date on this matter.

 

I look forward to your reply.   

 

Thank you. 

 

*********************

 

 

Santorella fights to keep pension - Connecticut Post May 16, 2013 STAMFORD -- State Attorney General George Jepsen's office has won a preliminary victory in its battle to revoke the pension of former City of Stamford accountant James Santorella, who pled guilty in 2011 to stealing $21,000 in city funds. Santorella has collected more than $90,000 in pension benefits since the city began issuing his $5,297 monthly checks in December 2011. The Norwalk resident spent 36 years working for the city and retired before his arrest, which has so far allowed him to protect his pension.  http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Santorella-fights-to-keep-pension-4524059.php

 

 

AG Jepsen going after pension of convicted former Redding ... highway super Monday, February 4, 2013  Attorney General George Jepsen has filed a suit in Hartford Superior Court seeking to revoke or reduce the pension of former Redding highway superintendent  Bruce L. Sanford of Redding, who recently pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree larceny and was sentenced on January 17. Mr. Sanford worked for Redding from July 1990 to July 2011 and rose to highway department superintendent. He embezzled town funds for repairs and parts for a lawn mower and an antique truck and a lawn mower. “Additionally, he sold multiple vehicles owned by the municipality and kept the proceeds,” Jepsen said. Sanford is serving three months in prison as part of a five-year prison sentence, followed by three years probation.

 

 

Jepsen Seeks Prison Costs From Convicted Sex Abuser - Hartford ... August 28, 2012|By JON LENDER, jlender@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

State Attorney General George Jepsen is again trying to recover incarceration costs from the state pension of Richard Straub, a former state probation officer convicted of sexually abusing juveniles he supervised and later convicted in an attempted murder-for-hire plot against a state prosecutor. Straub, now in a Florida prison as part of an interstate prisoner-exchange agreement, is still receiving a monthly Connecticut pension payment of $3,788, after taxes. "Connecticut taxpayers should not be expected to pay for the cost of incarceration, when Mr. Straub can afford to pay for those expenses himself through his state pension," Jepsen said in a statement. Jepsen said his office has filed papers seeking a judgment in Hartford Superior Court requiring Straub to pay the state $179,816 for the expense of keeping him in prison through March 1, 2014. http://articles.courant.com/2012-08-28/news/hc-jepsen-convict-pension-0829-20120828_1_state-pension-richard-straub-pension-revocation-law

 

 

 

State Targets Pension Of Ex-Official Jailed For Sex With Inmate ...

October 21, 2011|Jon Lender, Government Watch - Kearney retired in late 2009 at age 48, and his pension now amounts to $66,666 a year after an annual cost-of-living increase of 2½ percent last January. His guilty plea in June to second-degree sexual assault did not trigger an attempt by state officials to reduce or cancel his pension by use of a pension-revocation law that the state legislature passed in 2008. That's because the law applies only to a public employee's conviction of crimes involving improper financial gain or fraud – not a crime against a prisoner who was under that employee's control, according to state Attorney General George Jepsen. However, last week, state officials tried another method for targeting Kearney's lifetime pension: They utilized a different law — one that enables the state Department of Correction commissioner recover the expense of incarcerating an inmate — to seek a judgment in Hartford Superior Court that Kearney's pension payments must be used to pay incarceration costs, calculated at $133 a day. That would amount to $121,562 if Kearney serves the full 30-month sentence, or $60,781 if he's released on the earliest date possible, Oct. 12, 2012.  http://articles.courant.com/2011-10-21/news/hc-lender-column-jailed-warden-1023-20111021_1_pension-payments-incarceration-retirement-payments

 

 

 

Attorney General Files Lawsuit to Revoke Perez's Pension  September 27, 2010  CTNewsJunkie.com  Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s office filed a lawsuit Monday which seeks to revoke the pension of former Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, who was convicted of larceny, bribery, and conspiracy. Blumenthal said his office filed the lawsuit “because the law requires us to do so.” This is the first time the pension revocation law that passed in 2008 has been tested. There really has been no full scale proceeding under this law,” Blumenthal said. “It’s required by law that we bring the action.” http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/attorney_general_files_lawsuit_to_revoke_perezs_pension/

 

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